A suspected outbreak of fungal meningitis has occurred in Matamoros, Mexico, causing concerns among patients who underwent surgical procedures under epidural anesthesia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that two cosmetic surgery patients who traveled to Matamoros have died in the United States, and over 200 other individuals who had surgery there are also at risk of infection.
Two Deaths and 200 Possible Infections
In response to the outbreak, the CDC is collaborating with the Mexican Ministry of Health, as well as various state and local health departments in the United States, to swiftly contain the spread of the infection. The outbreak is believed to have originated from two now-closed clinics, River Side Surgical Center and Clinica K-3.
The CDC has classified the two individuals who died as probable cases of fungal meningitis. Additionally, they have identified 11 more possible cases and 14 suspected cases of the infection. Mexico’s Ministry of Health provided the CDC with a list of 221 US residents who may be at risk because they were listed as having had a surgical procedure at one of the two clinics this year. These patients are strongly advised to seek immediate medical attention at their nearest health center, urgent care facility, or emergency room for diagnostic testing for meningitis. The testing process includes an MRI scan and a lumbar puncture, commonly known as a spinal tap.
A Worse Case Scenario
Aesthetic surgeons who have cautioned patients to be careful in the past have pointed to this deadly outbreak as another example of exercising caution when traveling outside of the country for a cosmetic procedure. While many patients seek a cheaper alternative abroad, Tucson, AZ plastic surgeon Raman Mahabir, MD says bargain shopping will affect the standard of care you receive. “Safety quite simply can cost more,” he says. “The less-expensive options south of the border may seem appealing, but then consider where they might be cutting costs. This recent series of devastating complications in Mexico is an illustration of the added risks you take trying to ‘save money.’ Perhaps it is worth saving up for an extra year for the added safety the U.S. has to offer.”
La Jolla, CA plastic surgeon Robert Singer, MD adds that there are good surgeons abroad and patients should vet their surgeons via the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) before committing to any procedure outside of the country. “If you go out of the country for plastic surgery, make sure that the individual is a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. There are many qualified surgeons around the world, however there are also many physicians abroad who have limited training operating in facilities and have no oversight. There is also no follow up if you have a concern. People should bargain shop for T-shirts and flip flops, not cosmetic surgery.”
While medical tourism may offer the allure of cost savings and access to specialized treatments, this deadly fungal meningitis outbreak highlights the potential dangers it poses to patients. The many risks involved in seeking cosmetic treatments abroad underscore the importance of thorough research before taking that flight.
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