Sorry for the hiatus - it's been quite busy!
We had a most peculiar case 2 weeks ago. A patient hospitalized for an entirely unrelated surgical issue developed meningitis. It was concerning but she got better.
Then a young mother in the hospital developed meningitis. She had just had a C-section.
Then another. And quickly, another.
My colleagues involved in the cases noted that each had had spinal anesthesia, from separate, single-use vials, but all from the same manufacturer. We switched manufacturers and there have been no further cases. Interestingly, cultures from each patient and from the anesthetic used are all negative. It's possible it is a 'chemical' meningitis - irritation rather than infection. Testing is ongoing.
It highlights some of the unreliability of medications and their purity in developing nations.
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| A little blurry, sorry |
Then a young mother in the hospital developed meningitis. She had just had a C-section.
Then another. And quickly, another.
My colleagues involved in the cases noted that each had had spinal anesthesia, from separate, single-use vials, but all from the same manufacturer. We switched manufacturers and there have been no further cases. Interestingly, cultures from each patient and from the anesthetic used are all negative. It's possible it is a 'chemical' meningitis - irritation rather than infection. Testing is ongoing.
It highlights some of the unreliability of medications and their purity in developing nations.
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