Tenn. pharmacy shipped potentially contaminated steroids to Alabama clinic

WASHINGTON Alabama is one of 13 states that may have been shipped potentially contaminated steroids from a Tennessee pharmacy.

The Alabama Department of Public Health announced Friday that it is participating with other local, state and federal health agencies in an investigation of the products.

The Tennessee Department of Health said its too early to tell how many people may have received the injections that are now under scrutiny.

The drug was shipped to medical facilities in 13 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, according to pharmacy records.

The Alabama Department of Public Health said the locations to which the drug was shipped included one Alabama clinic, but it did not give the clinics name or location.

At this time, the clinic will begin notifying patients who may have been exposed to the product to alert them to report any signs and symptoms of complications, the Alabama Health Department said in a news release. The Alabama Board of Pharmacy has also been contacted.

State and local public health officials are working with the Alabama clinic that received the formulation of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA), a steroid product, associated with the investigation. MPA is typically used for reducing inflammation.

But the Alabama health department warned that it is still very early in the rapidly evolving investigation and that information could change quickly.

Government health officials are investigating several cases involving patients who suffered complications after being injected with the potentially contaminated medications that were made by the Tennessee specialty pharmacy.

The Food and Drug Administration said Friday the problems involve seven patients who received steroid injections from Main Street Family Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy in Newbern, Tenn.

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Tenn. pharmacy shipped potentially contaminated steroids to Alabama clinic