SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- The Rhode Island Health Department has found that Bayview Pharmacy has been compounding medications in violation of state law, and ordered it to stop doing so immediately.
Inspections in September and last week found that Bayview is "acting as an unlicensed manufacturer and distributor of sterile injectable medications" to people in Rhode Island and to practitioners as far away as Illinois. State law allows compounding -- the mixing of pharmacy ingredients -- only to fill prescriptions for specific individuals.
Inspectors also found evidence of unsterile conditions and the use of expired powders.
The order allows the pharmacy to continue "lawful dispensing of medications".
The action comes as 490 people (including 3 in Rhode Island) fell ill with fungal meningitis, and 32 died, after getting steroid shots made by a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts.
Correction: Bayview Pharmacy is located in South Kingsotwn. The community where it is located was incorrect in an earlier version of this report.