Health care facilities that received recalled lots of steroids• Forsyth Street Ambulatory Surgery Center, Macon, Ga.• PCA Pain Care Center, Oak Ridge, Tenn.• Specialty Surgery Center, Crossville, Tenn.• St. Thomas Outpatient Neurosurgical, NashvilleSource: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionFungal MeningitisMeningitis is swelling of the protective membranes, or meninges, covering the brain and spinal cord. The swelling is usually caused by an infection with a bacteria or virus, but meningitis can also be caused by a fungus, which is called fungal meningitis.Symptoms of fungal meningitis are similar to symptoms of other forms of meningitis; however, they often appear more gradually and can be very mild at first.Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionSymptoms of fungal meningitisIf you had an epidural steroid injection since May 21, 2012, and have any of the following symptoms, talk to your doctor as soon as possible:• New or worsening headache• Fever• Sensitivity to light• Stiff neck• New weakness or numbness in any part of your body• Slurred speech• Increased pain, redness or swelling at your injection siteSource: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The president-elect of the state medical association said officials must look closely at why the Volunteer State has so many cases of fungal meningitis that have claimed the lives of eight Tennessee residents.
“Why do we have so many of these procedures being done?” Dr. Chris Young, of Chattanooga, asked Friday about the meningitis outbreak. “We need to make sure the right procedure is being done on the right patient.”
Of the 271 people diagnosed with the deadly infection, 66 were in Tennessee, the highest of any state. Neither Georgia nor Alabama had any cases diagnosed as of Friday afternoon.
Sixteen states have reported cases of meningitis, and 21 people have died, although there have been deaths in only six states — Tennessee, Michigan, Florida, Indiana, Maryland and Virginia. Tennessee leads the death toll with eight, while Michigan is second with five.