 |
|
|
Meningitis Outbreak
Dr. James Loden specializes in eye surgery including a procedure to use medication to reduce the size of blood vessels.
"It's a medication we might use once a month or every other month," said Loden.
As it turns out, some of the medication Loden Vision Center had in stock for this procedure earlier this month came from the same New England Compounding Center that's under investigation in the meningitis outbreak.
"Once we found out there was a serious problem from this pharmacy we immediately disposed of the medication," said Loden.
At the time there was no official reason to be concerned but that's changing.
The FDA says there's a concern medication the N.E.C.C. created for both eye and back surgery might also be a risk for spreading meningitis.
As of Wednesday, there were no cases officially linked to eye surgery but there is one that may be linked to a heart procedure in another state.
A total of 74 medical facilities received medication from the pharmacy.
The Tennessee Hospital Association is helping notify these facilities and in turn, patients.
President Craig Becker says the immediate concern is reaching patients who've had a procedure in the last 6 weeks.
"It's not to say that the folks who've had these procedures before the 6 week period should not be aware it's just the ones the most at risk are the ones in the last six weeks," said Becker.
Yet another concern for medication Dr. Loden says patients and doctors should have felt comfortable using.
"For us as physicians we're depending on these pharmacies giving us the quality products we need to help people," said Loden.
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 11:00 PM CDT
"It's a medication we might use once a month or every other month," said Loden.
As it turns out, some of the medication Loden Vision Center had in stock for this procedure earlier this month came from the same New England Compounding Center that's under investigation in the meningitis outbreak.
"Once we found out there was a serious problem from this pharmacy we immediately disposed of the medication," said Loden.
At the time there was no official reason to be concerned but that's changing.
The FDA says there's a concern medication the N.E.C.C. created for both eye and back surgery might also be a risk for spreading meningitis.
As of Wednesday, there were no cases officially linked to eye surgery but there is one that may be linked to a heart procedure in another state.
A total of 74 medical facilities received medication from the pharmacy.
The Tennessee Hospital Association is helping notify these facilities and in turn, patients.
President Craig Becker says the immediate concern is reaching patients who've had a procedure in the last 6 weeks.
"It's not to say that the folks who've had these procedures before the 6 week period should not be aware it's just the ones the most at risk are the ones in the last six weeks," said Becker.
Yet another concern for medication Dr. Loden says patients and doctors should have felt comfortable using.
"For us as physicians we're depending on these pharmacies giving us the quality products we need to help people," said Loden.
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 11:00 PM CDT
