 IDPH is currently investigating five cases of patients who developed abscesses
after receiving injections of methylprednisolone acetate, known as MPA, an
anti-inflammatory steroid used to treat a range of conditions including asthma
and allergic reactions. Two patients in North Carolina also have been affected.
All patients received injections of MPA from a shipment that originated from
Main Street Family Pharmacy in Newbern, Tenn.All five Illinois cases received
injections at the Logan Primary Care clinic in Herrin, in downstate Williamson
County.
IDPH is conducting a joint investigation with the Food and Drug
Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, North Carolina
Department of Health and Human Services, and Tennessee Department of Health.
"The Illinois Department of Public Health continues to work with local and
federal officials investigating these adverse events," said Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck,
IDPH director. "Our first priority is to ensure that all products from the
Tennessee pharmacy are sequestered and no longer in use, and also to ensure that
any others who might have received MPA injections have been contacted."
The Illinois injections occurred between Jan. 3 and Feb. 21, and cases were
identified in April and May. Investigation into the cause of the adverse events
is ongoing. One report from North Carolina indicates a fungal infection as the
cause of an abscess that developed after injection with MPA from the compounding
pharmacy. To date, no reports of meningitis or other life-threatening infections
have been reported.
Main Street Pharmacy has voluntarily initiated a recall of all sterile
products, including MPA, in cooperation with state and federal authorities. Main
Street Family Pharmacy LLC is currently licensed by the Illinois Department of
Financial and Professional Regulation, which is also investigating.
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In an abundance of caution to protect the general public, health
officials are encouraging:
-
Facilities to
conduct a thorough examination of records from the pharmacy to
determine when and where MPA products were shipped. It is known
that these products were distributed to facilities in 13 states,
including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky,
Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina and
South Carolina.
-
A thorough review
of the receiving facilities’ records to learn which of their
patients may have received MPA injections. Health officials will
work closely with these facilities to investigate possible
adverse events among those patients who received the suspect
medication under investigation and to assist with outreach
efforts to communicate with other patients.
-
Additional laboratory work to determine
the cause or causes of these adverse events.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Public Health file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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