Massachusetts officials have ordered 11 compounding pharmacies to completely or partially shut down their operations after a series of recent and unannounced state inspections.

The unannounced inspections were conducted over the past several months at 40 sterile compounding pharmacies across the state.

The inspections were prompted by a deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis caused by contaminated drugs linked to the now-closed New England Compounding Center.

The Framingham pharmacy produced a contaminated steroid blamed for an outbreak that has killed 45 people and sickened more than 600 nationwide.

Besides the 11 cease and desist orders, public health inspectors cited another 21 pharmacies for minor deficiencies that have since been corrected or are currently being addressed.

Pharmacies that have been shut down must submit a plan and take corrective actions before they can begin producing drugs again. [Associated Press]

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