Mass. Closes New Pharmacy Amid Meningitis Scare

Massachusetts health officials have closed another compounding pharmacy amid the meningitis outbreak traced to the state. An official cited sterility concerns after a surprise inspection at Infusion Resource, a Rhode Island-based pharmacy with a branch in Waltham, Mass. The inspections come after a fungal meningitis outbreak tied to drugs from the New England Compounding Center; such compounding pharmacies create drug blends that may not be widely available. The manager of record at Infusion Resource had previously worked at Ameridose, which owns NECC, a state health official noted.

In the latest closure, officials pointed to a cracked window, leaky fridge, and other cleanliness issues, the AP reports. There was no sign of health risks with the products themselves, the official said. "I want to reassure our patients and the general public of the safety, purity, and efficacy of our solutions produced at our Waltham pharmacy since we were first licensed in 2009," said Infusion Resource's CEO, who said it will immediately address the issues. Meanwhile, the firm is calling on patients to send back any meds they haven't used. (More Massachusetts stories.)