Publication:

Spinal anaesthesia-linked fungal meningitis: a health crisis unfolds in the United States and Mexico

An outbreak of uncommon cases of central nervous system infection (CNSI) linked to spinal anesthesia was reported in May 2023 by the United States and Mexico. The cases were identified in five female patients undergoing certain surgical procedures with spinal anesthesia in Mexico, in two private hospitals. These cases were tested positive for Fungal meningitis caused by a pathogenic fungus under laboratory investigations. Following the outbreak, as of 26 May 2023, the USA and Mexico have reported 20 more cases with signs and symptoms of CNSI which also includes 2 deaths reported by the United States of America centers for disease control and prevention (US CDC).