In light of a recent massive fungal meningitis outbreak involving 490 patients, Dr. Catherine Staes and Jason Jacobs collaborated w/ Dr. Jeanmarie Mayer, hospital epidemiologist, and Jill Allen, a drug information specialist, to investigate the frequency of infection outbreaks associated with compounding pharmacies. They recently published their findings in AJHP and found 11 previous outbreaks related to compounding outside of the hospital pharmacy. These previous outbreaks were smaller but just as serious in outcome. Half the outbreaks resulted in total recall of products at the facility involved. Outbreaks often crossed state lines, illustrating a potential ongoing public health hazard. Go here for the paper: .