Fungal Outbreak May Still Threaten NJ Patients, Nine Months Later

By Andrew Kitchenman (courtesy of NJ Spotlight)

Nine months after more than four dozen New Jerseyans got sick from the largest healthcare-associated fungal outbreak in U.S. history, state officials still aren’t sure if there will be more cases. That is one of several open issues that continue to be monitored concerning the incident, which led to a range of illnesses including fungal meningitis and strokes.

“Patients are still at risk, even though it’s many months after the incident,” said Dr. Barbara Montana, the medical director for the state Department of Health communicable disease service.

The outbreak, which began last September due to contaminated steroid products from Massachusetts compounding pharmacy New England Compounding Center (NECC), led to 51 New Jersey residents becoming ill, including some who have suffered long-term damage. Montana discussed the response to the outbreak at an event focused on reducing healthcare-associated infections hosted by the Healthcare Quality Professionals of New Jersey at the New Jersey Hospital Association office in West Windsor.

The steroid products were used in injections in six New Jersey facilities. The infections were concentrated at two Cumberland County centers. The longest time thus far recorded between a New Jersey patient receiving an infected shot and becoming sick is 228 days, according to state officials. This extended period has made it a challenge to keep track of all of the patients who received the shots.

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