Oct 5, 2012 2 min read

The Department of Health is working with two pain clinics to identify and contact patients who received a medication linked to cases of an unusual type of fungal meningitis in several other states. The two clinics involved are Allegheny Pain Management in Altoona, as well as South Hills Pain and Rehab Associates, with locations in Jefferson Hills, Bethel Park, Monessen and Brentwood. The Allegheny Health Department is also working with state officials regarding the South Hills Pain and Rehab Associates facilities. So far, no cases of illness related to the use of this medication have been identified in Pennsylvania. A total of 34 cases and five deaths associated with this outbreak have been identified in six other states to date. The disease outbreak has been linked to three separate lots of injectable, preservative-free methylprednisolone. This medication is only used for treatment of chronic pain, usually involving injection into an area around the spinal cord known as the epidural space or into joints or muscles. The lots in question were produced by a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts, which recalled it last week. Fungal meningitis is not transmitted from person-to-person, and there is no cause for concern to anyone in Pennsylvania who did not receive an injection of this medication.