Parker Waichman LLP

Tennessee hospital seeing high volume of fungal meningitis cases during outbreak

A Nashville, Tenn., hospital is serving as the makeshift epicenter of the deadly nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to a contaminated steroid injection. According to a Reuters report, St. Thomas Hospital just outside Nashville has served 15 percent of the more than 200 people who’ve been infected with fungal meningitis after they received a […]

Fungal Meningitis Lawsuits Due to Contaminated Steroid Injections in MichiganA Nashville, Tenn., hospital is serving as the makeshift epicenter of the deadly nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to a contaminated steroid injection.

According to a Reuters report, St. Thomas Hospital just outside Nashville has served 15 percent of the more than 200 people who’ve been infected with fungal meningitis after they received a dose of a contaminated Methylprednisolone Acetate injection. This epidural steroid injection is commonly prescribed in the treatment of back pain and inflammation.

Health officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed 205 cases of fungal meningitis associated with the outbreak. There have been 15 deaths reported in six states which received the contaminated vials of the Methylprednisolone Acetate drug from New England Compounding Center.

The most affected state in this outbreak has been Tennessee. The Nashville hospital most known for its cardiac care has treated 33 of the 53 cases of fungal meningitis in the state and it’s where doctors first started to realize that something was amiss with the Methylprednisolone Acetate vials.

As many as 13,000 people could be at risk of developing fungal meningitis. NECC sent at least that many vials of the Methylprednisolone Acetate drug combination to more than 70 pain management and health care centers in at least 23 states. Fungal meningitis infections have been reported in 14 of the states.  The number of victims in this outbreak is expected to rise in coming weeks because it takes time to confirm the illness and it could take up to a month for symptoms of fungal meningitis to develop.

According to the Reuters report, at its highest point the St. Thomas hospital was treating about 45 people per day who received a Methylprednisolone Acetate injection. The hospital received about 2,000 of the vials suspected of being contaminated with a fungus that could cause this deadly outbreak.

As the outbreak develops and more victims are identified, state and federal health authorities are working to educate not only the public but also health care officials on the hallmarks of this rare infection, including telltale early signs of an infection like a stiff neck, a worsening headache, and fever.

Questions have also been raised about the possible license violations at NECC that allowed so many vials of Methylprednisolone Acetate to be shipped from the compounding lab in Massachusetts to all these health centers. NECC is reportedly only authorized to distribute Methylprednisolone Acetate vials on an as-needed basis, if prescriptions for the drug are confirmed before they’re made.

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Mrs. Josama is phenomenal! She was extremely thorough, attentive, and knowledgeable.
Karema Brown
4 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Nicole has been helpful on the entire process. Thank you so much.
Lorraine Chan
3 months ago
5 Star Reviews 150
They were really professional answered all my questions walk me through the end of my case i will surely recomend to my family and friends
Malini Prasad
6 months ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038