Another Compounding Pharmacy in Massachusetts Shut Down

Pharmacy image via Shutterstock

Another compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts was shut down this weekend. Infusion Resource in Waltham was issued a cease-and-desist order after a surprise inspection questioned sterility conditions at the lab and inspectors found that intravenous medications were given to patients, against state regulations. Madeleine Biondolillo, director of the Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality at the Massachusetts Public Health Department said that inspectors found, “significant issues with the environment in which medications were being compounded.” She also says that there is no indication that any of the drugs made at Infusion Resource are unsafe, but they are concerned about sterility.

Gov. Deval Patrick ordered unannounced inspections of the 25 compounding pharmacies in Massachusetts that prepare injectable medications, amid the investigation of the New England Compounding Pharmacy in Framingham, which has been linked to the national meningitis outbreak. As of this past Saturday (the last time the CDC updated it’s findings), the fungal meningitis outbreak had more than  340 cases reported in 18 states, resulting in 25 deaths. So far.

Infusion Resource Executive Officer Bernard F. Lambrese says that the company will take immediate action to fix the issues. “No issues were cited relating to the integrity of our products nor to the quality of our compounding practices,” Lambrese said. “Patient safety is something we take very seriously.”