The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are currently coordinating a multi-state investigation of fungal meningitis among patients who received an epidural steroid injection with a potentially contaminated product. This form of meningitis is not contagious. Several of these patients also suffered strokes that are believed to have resulted from their infection.

Fungal meningitis occurs when the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord are infected with a fungus.

Symptoms of fungal meningitis are similar to symptoms of other forms of meningitis, however they often appear more gradually and can be very mild at first.  In addition to typical meningitis symptoms, like headache, fever, nausea, and stiffness of the neck, people with fungal meningitis may also experience confusion, dizziness, and discomfort from bright lights. Patients might just have one or two of these symptoms.

Please forward to others and please take note of the symptoms of fungal meningitis if you have had an epidural steroid injection in Maryland recently.

For more information please go to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 (8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday).