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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
"Meningitis is inflammation of the covering of the brain," says Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University Medical Center
While we usually hear about bacterial or viral meningitis, the type of meningitis that has infected patients in Tennessee and North Carolina is caused by an extremely rare fungus.
"The fungus involved called asperigilus is all around us all the time," added Dr. Schaffner
Schaffner says, it’s actually a type of mold caused by decaying vegetation. For example falling leaves.
"Normal people can just throw it off day in and day out. However, every once in a while it can get into a patient who is already very, very sick," said Dr. Schaffner
The patients infected all had epidermal steroid injections in their back or lumbar area. Officials suspect the steroid medication was contaminated.
"It would appear that a what's called a compounding pharmacy, out of state created a lot of this steroid medication , some of which was supplied to a clinic right here in Nashville. The early investigation seems to indicate that a batch of this indictable steroid was contaminated coming out of the pharmacy." Dr. Schaffner.
Dr. Schaffner says the good news is that the CDC and FDA are able to track exactly how many doses of medication were distributed and to whom.
It’s believed that all of the patients have been identified; treating this rare outbreak will be a challenge.
"Fungal infections are by in large more difficult to treat than simple bacterial infections. They're less common. We have fewer anti-fungal agents to use to treat them. They often occur in very ill patients. So that makes it harder to treat," added Dr. Schaffner
While we usually hear about bacterial or viral meningitis, the type of meningitis that has infected patients in Tennessee and North Carolina is caused by an extremely rare fungus.
"The fungus involved called asperigilus is all around us all the time," added Dr. Schaffner
Schaffner says, it’s actually a type of mold caused by decaying vegetation. For example falling leaves.
"Normal people can just throw it off day in and day out. However, every once in a while it can get into a patient who is already very, very sick," said Dr. Schaffner
The patients infected all had epidermal steroid injections in their back or lumbar area. Officials suspect the steroid medication was contaminated.
"It would appear that a what's called a compounding pharmacy, out of state created a lot of this steroid medication , some of which was supplied to a clinic right here in Nashville. The early investigation seems to indicate that a batch of this indictable steroid was contaminated coming out of the pharmacy." Dr. Schaffner.
Dr. Schaffner says the good news is that the CDC and FDA are able to track exactly how many doses of medication were distributed and to whom.
It’s believed that all of the patients have been identified; treating this rare outbreak will be a challenge.
"Fungal infections are by in large more difficult to treat than simple bacterial infections. They're less common. We have fewer anti-fungal agents to use to treat them. They often occur in very ill patients. So that makes it harder to treat," added Dr. Schaffner
Monday, October 1 2012, 10:24 PM CDT
Tennessee News
Houston brother will be his own attorney in court
June 18, 2013 13:02 GMT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Roane County man will face federal gun violation charges next month without an attorney.
The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/17VlXpM ) reported Rocky Joe Houston will represent himself on a charge of possession of a gun by a felon.
The charge came after Houston earlier represented himself in state court on charges stemming from a police chase. He was convicted of evading arrest and reckless endangerment.
Houston and his brother, Leon Houston, were tried, but not convicted, in the 2006 shooting deaths of a Roane County deputy and his ride-along companion.
In federal court, Rocky Joe Houston is claiming the officer who charged him with the felony had no legal authority.
Information from: Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com
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