PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

St. John's Medical Center has issued the following statement regarding the fungal meningitis outbreak that resulted from a steroid injection used for back pain:

"In light of the recent national news about the fungal meningitis outbreak that resulted from a steroid injection commonly used for back pain, St. John's Medical Center wants to assure its patients and the community at large that the product in question has not been used at St. John's Medical Center, St. John's Living Center or at St. John's-owned physician clinics. A thorough check of the hospital and clinic medication inventory has determined that St. John's has not purchased this medication (methylprednisolone acetate) or any other medications from the New England Compounding Center (NECC) for our patients. If you have any questions you are encouraged to call the hospital Community Relations office at 739-7380."