TRENTON, N.J.
(AP) — A New Jersey doctor who has given patients a steroid associated
with a deadly outbreak of meningitis says the scare has shocked
pain-management professionals.
Richard Siegfried's practice is in
Sparta in northwestern New Jersey. He said Friday he has been in touch
will all five patients who were given the epidural steroid injection
from a recalled lot from a Massachusetts pharmacy.
Siegfried says
he uses the products from so-called compounding pharmacies even though
they frequently are more expensive than generic, FDA-approved products.
He says this is because the compounding products are preservative-free.
State officials say about 1,000 people were injected with the steroid at six facilities.
Health
Commissioner Mary O'Dowd says no illnesses have been uncovered in New
Jersey. The outbreak has caused five deaths and dozens of illnesses
nationwide.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
