profession
Second pharmacy recalls products amid meningitis probe
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 12, 2012
Westborough, Mass.-based compounding pharmacy Ameridose announced a voluntary recall of all of its unexpired products on Oct. 31. The pharmacy has the same owners as the Framingham, Mass.-based New England Compounding Center, whose contaminated injectable steroids are blamed for the fungal meningitis outbreak that has killed 30 and sickened nearly 420 patients in 19 states across the country as of Nov. 5.
In its announcement, Ameridose said it had not received any adverse reports regarding its medications but chose to voluntarily recall its products “out of an abundance of caution.” A complete list of recalled products is available at the pharmacy’s website (link).
The Food and Drug Administration is recommending extensive patient follow-up and notification of patients who received NECC injectables. The tainted steroids were shipped to 76 health care facilities in 24 states. The FDA has made a patient notification letter template, along with the latest news on the meningitis outbreak, available at its website (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/11/12/prbf1112.htm.