10/12/12 - The number of Michigan residents seeking treatment for fungal meningitis has grown, according to the hospital designated as an area meningitis treatment center. As of Thursday, 26 people were hospitalized at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti. Thatâs up from 18 on Tuesday. Hospital officials say all cases were confirmed as fungal meningitis by the Michigan Department of Community Health. Meanwhile, the local clinic that administered the tainted shots, Michigan Pain Specialists of Brighton, confirmed that three of the four known deaths in Michigan had sought treatment there. Previously, the only confirmed death from the clinic was that of 67-year-old Lilian Cary of Howell Township. But a 56-year-old woman from Genesee County and a 78-year-old Washtenaw County woman who also died from meningitis are thought to have been clinic patients as well. Dr. John Chatas is the owner of Michigan Pain Specialists in Brighton and he says their hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones or who became sick as a result of the contamination that health officials say occurred at a Massachusetts pharmacy. "It's pretty devastating for the doctors and nurses and the staff at my office to have been part of this national epidemic. We're in health care and we're health care practitioners because we like making people feel better." Dr. Chatas tells WHMI when the recall was announced, some patients had already been hospitalized and were being treated for bacterial meningitis but not doing so well with the treatments. He says they immediately notified doctors that their patients had been exposed to the contaminated medication, who then switched them over to an anti-fungal treatment. Chatas says itâs important for anyone exposed to not ignore any symptoms, no matter how minor. Some have included headaches, dizziness, eye pain, feeling tired or out of it as well as memory trouble. He says they have been sending 20 to 50 patients to St. Joes in Ann Arbor for testing on a daily basis. The tests are spinal taps that examine white blood cell counts. Anyone with a slight abnormality in their spinal fluid is being admitted for treatment. Chatas says they were closed this week to focus all attention on their patients but expect to open back up next week. (JK)
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