Nurses increase vigilance for fungal meningitis

Nurses must increase vigilance in identifying patients in danger for fungal meningitis following the September 26, 2012 recall of methylprednisolone acetate for injection packaged by the New England Compounding Facility in Framingham, Massachusetts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, there have been 185 cases and 14 deaths in 12 states, and the number continues to rise (CDC, 2012). The impact is potentially greater because health care facilities in 21 states have received recalled a number of the affected drug.

Patients who received contaminated injections experienced symptoms one to 4 weeks after the injection. It is essential for nurses to report patients who experience symptoms of meningitis to their physician or advanced practice licensed nurse by October. To further assist within the evaluation or referral for treatment of meningitis, all health care providers, including those in primary care, emergency departments, or retail clinics, should visit the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/meningitis-facilities-map.html) for a current list of healthcare providers who managed the recalled batches. The CDC website also provides constantly updated information on the meningitis epidemic and academic information for healthcare providers and patients.

Post: Karen Innocent, MS, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC, CMSRN

Reference

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Investigation of an outbreak of multistate meningitis. Downloaded from http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html. Last access: 12/10/2012.