FDA: Fungus in tainted steroids and patients match - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Health officials have confirmed that a fungus behind a meningitis outbreak has also been found in unopened vials of steroid medication.

The Food and Drug Administration said the fungus was in one lot of vials made in August by the New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Mass.

The specialty pharmacy has been at the center of a national investigation into more than 250 fungal meningitis cases, including at least 20 deaths.

Health officials said this week that 40 of 42 patients were infected with a fungus called Exserohilum rostratum.

Meantime, Indiana has two more cases of fungal meningitis linked to injections of the recalled back pain steroid, bringing the state's total to 34.

The Indiana State Department of Health reported the new cases Wednesday. Two Indiana patients have died.

The state agency has released no details about the two deaths or the clinics they're linked to. Its policy is to withhold details about where the Indiana cases are located.

Relatives of 89-year-old Pauline Burema of Cassopolis, Mich., have said they believe she contracted the disease after receiving an injection at the OSMC Outpatient Surgery Center in Elkhart. Burema died Oct. 10, and the family has been awaiting autopsy results on the cause. A granddaughter has said the clinic has told its patients it had at least eight cases.

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