(Image Source: WCVB ) 

 

BY GEORGE DUMONTIER

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

The sister company of the hospital drug supplier linked to the meningitis outbreak that killed 32 people is now under the microscope after a not so positive FDA inspection released Monday. WCVB reports:

“For example, inspectors found insects and birds flying around the company’s facilities. The report also says thick residue was discovered on the equipment.”

Ameridose was cited for more than a dozen sterility problems cited by the FDA. NECN has more.

“Ameridose agreed to shut down last month after tainted steroids from its sister company, The New England Compounding Center, were linked to the fungal meningitis outbreak blamed for 30 deaths.”

There haven’t been issues with contaminated products from Ameridose in the past six years, but it has issued a recall for all products that aren’t expired. According to the company’s blog,

“...Out of an abundance of caution, we are undertaking this recall to assure customers that when Ameridose products are shipped, they are fully in conformance with all of the FDA's recommendations.”

The FDA disagrees. A spokeswoman for the agency told the New York Times...

“F.D.A. inspectors observed conditions and practices at Ameridose which demonstrated that the firm could not consistently assure that their injectable products were sterile and safe for use by patients...”

This inspection comes as new information surfaces about The New England Compounding Center. The Boston Globe reports, the center “disregarded sterility tests, prepared medicine in unsanitary conditions, and violated their pharmacy license.”

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a hearing regarding the meningitis outbreak on Wednesday.