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Two senior executives at a Massachusetts pharmacy have been charged along with 12 others in connection with a 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak in the U.S.
The primary fungus responsible for the infection was Exserohilum, a mold commonly found in soil and on plants, which was found in an injectable steroid medication produced by New England Compounding Company.
A total of 751 people in 20 states developed meningitis or other infections after being administered the tainted steroids. Sixty-four of those people died.
New England Compounding Center co-founder Barry Cadden and head pharmacist Glenn Adam Chin were both charged with 25 counts of second-degree murder. Twelve other employees face lesser charges.
Fungal meningitis is usually caused by the spread of fungus through the blood to the spinal cord. It causes inflammation of the meninges covering the spinal cord and the brain.
The swelling increases pressure on brain tissue and decreases cerebral blood flow, lowering the oxygen supply to the brain and eventually resulting in death.
