Spinal Injection Procedures Performed without a Facemask

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is referred about the occurrence of bacterial meningitis among patients having spinal injection procedures that require injection of material or insertion of a catheter into epidural or subdural spaces (e.g., myelogram, administration of spinal or epidural anesthesia, or intrathecal chemotherapy).

Outbreaks of bacterial meningitis following these spinal injection procedures continue to be named among patients whose procedures were performed by a healthcare provider who did not wear a facemask (e.g., may be labeled as surgical, medical procedure, or isolation mask), with the most recent occurrence in October 2010 (CDC unpublished data). This notice serves as a reminder that masks should always be used by health professionals to perform these spinal injection procedures.

Since masks have been shown to limit the spread of droplets resulting from the oral flora, the CDC has recommended its use by health professionals to perform spinal injection procedures.

In addition to wearing a mask, healthcare providers should ensure compliance with all CDC recommended safe injection practices including the use of a single-dose vial of medication to a patient.