POTSDAM -- Canton Potsdam Hospital officials say its steroid injections are not contaminated with fungal meningitis unlike those at some other health care facilities elsewhere in the U.S.

"In light of recent national reports of patients acquiring fungal meningitis after receiving methylprednisolone acetate manufactured by New England Compounding Center (NECC), Canton Potsdam Hospital is reassuring its patients that the methylprednisolone steroid dispensed to its patients to treat back pain is not a recalled product of the NECC. Compounding Centers, like NECC custom- mix medications," the release said.

According to officials, all injectable methylprednisolone used throughout CPH, including the off-site Pain Management Clinic, are in original manufacturer’s sterile vials and are neither compounded nor manipulated.

“Patients have been asking about the safety of our methylprednisolone product and I want to reassure them that CPH has never received methylprednisolone product from NECC or any other compounding company,” said Pharmacy Director Jennifer Starnes.

The methylprednisolone steroid injection administered at CPH is among those medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is not linked to the national outbreak of fungal meningitis.