FDA: Pharmacy's other drugs may be causing illness

5:10 PM, Oct 15, 2012   |    comments
The New England Compounding Center is shown here on October 5, 2012 in Framingham, Massachusetts. The pharmacy is currently being investigated for producing a contaminated steroid shot that included the meningitis fungus that has killed at least five people. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • - A A A +
  • FILED UNDER

By MIKE STOBBE / AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Health officials have broadened their warning to doctors about other medicines made by a specialty pharmacy linked to a meningitis outbreak.

The Food and Drug Administration took the step Monday because of reports of new illnesses that may be tied to other products made by the same company, the New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass.

Now health officials want doctors to contact patients who got any injection made by the company and warn them of the risk of infection.

A steroid made by the pharmacy has been tied to a national outbreak of a rare fungal form of meningitis that has killed 15.

The new reports include meningitis in a patient who got another company steroid and fungal infections in two heart transplant patients.