Update: Oct. 24, 2012: The Food and Drug Administration has released the list of companites that have purchased from the New England Compounding Center, which verifies that no Salem Health entities have received the drugs. The FDA list is available online.

Original release: Oct. 17, 2012

We have received inquires asking if Salem Health has purchased from the New England Compounding Center. NECC recalled products on Sept. 26 after a national fungal meningitis outbreak was associated with the company.

We do not purchase from NECC. Patients who have received epidural injections at any Salem Health location are not affected by this recall action.

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of Oct. 17, 2012:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with state and local health departments and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate meningitis outbreak of fungal infections among patients who have received a steroid injection of a potentially contaminated product into the spinal area. This form of meningitis is not contagious. The investigation also includes fungal infections associated with injections in a peripheral joint space, such as a knee, shoulder or ankle.

The CDC recommends that patients who feel ill and are concerned about whether they received a medication from one of the NECC products recalled on September 26 should contact their physician.

You can learn more about this outbreak, the states with patients who are affected, and what to do if you think you may have been exposed, at www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html