Outbreak of Septic Arthritis in Monmouth County, NJ Linked to Intra-Articular Injections

Outbreak of Septic Arthritis in Monmouth County, NJ Linked to Intra-Articular InjectionsWhen you have arthritis, a chronic condition, your joints become inflamed and stiff. It can be incredibly painful. Osteoarthritis causes your cartilage to break down, whereas rheumatoid arthritis targets the lining of the joints. There is no cure, though certain types of treatments can help ease the pain and stiffness caused by the inflammation. One of the most common treatments involves corticosteroids, which can be taken in pill form, or injected directly into the painful joint – and intra-articular injection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported on an outbreak of septic arthritis at a private practice in Wall Township, located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, linked to these types of injections. Septic arthritis, per the Mayo Clinic, “is a painful infection in a joint. The infection can come from germs that travel through your bloodstream from another part of your body.” According to the CDC report:

“On March 6, 2017, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) was notified of three cases of septic arthritis in patients who had received intra-articular injections for osteoarthritic knee pain at a private outpatient practice. The practice voluntarily closed the next day. NJDOH, in conjunction with the local health department and the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners, conducted an investigation and identified 41 cases of septic arthritis associated with intra-articular injections administered during 250 patient visits at the same practice, including 30 (73%) patients who required surgery. Bacterial cultures of synovial fluid or tissue from 15 (37%) patients were positive; all recovered organisms were oral flora” (emphasis ours).

Twelve different bacterial strains were identified in 23 patients, including Streptococcus mitis-oralis and multiple forms of staph infections.

What caused the outbreak at the NJ clinic?

Th CDC identified “multiple breaches in infection prevention recommendations.” Those breaches in protocol included:

  • No handwashing sink provided for staff members
  • No alcohol-based hand rub provided for staff members
  • Staff reusing the same bulk container of contrast material for multiple patients
  • Staff failing to properly clean and/or sterilize the septum of the cleaner after the initial draw
  • Medical assistants drawing the drugs up to four days before those injections were given to a patient (standard protocol is one hour before injection)
  • Staff members failing to wear sterile gloves or face masks during procedures

Breach of proper protocol is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections; over the last few years, the USC Specialty Clinic in Columbia, South Carolina and Roper Hospital in Charleston both had patients exposed to deadly non-tuberculous mycobacteria, and multiple hospitals around the country have seen outbreaks like these because of defective heater-cooler units. To date, 27 women have been infected at Roper, which necessitated additional surgeries and months of treatment.

If you have developed an infectious disease or condition at a medical facility using defective products or drugs, or which has failed to follow proper protocol when it comes to dispensing medications or performing medical procedures, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost time at work, your medical expenses and your pain and suffering. McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC is leading the charges against HAIs which result from an act of negligence. To learn more about our services, please call 803-327-7800, or fill out our contact form.