Massachusetts Company Linked to Meningitis Outbreak Inspected In 2011

The specialty pharmacy that made the steroid suspected in a deadly meningitis outbreak was cleared by Massachusetts inspectors last year.  Dr. Madeleine Biondolillo, director of the state's Bureau of Healthcare Safety, said Thursday the inspection was required after the New England Compounding Center in Framingham relocated.   Biondolillo also said NECC has a pending complaint against it from this year which appears unrelated to the current outbreak. She said two prior complaints, including one for sterile compounding procedures, were resolved in 2006.

Federal investigators said Thursday they found contamination in a sealed vial of the steroid at NECC. They're testing if it's the fungus that's sickened 35 people in six states, five of whom have died.  The company has recalled 17,676 vials of the medication. None were distributed in Massachusetts. It has voluntarily suspended operations during the investigation.