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OB: Shortage of One Type of PenicillinFrom: Geffrey Klein, MD (gklein@icsi.net)Fri Oct 29 15:52:51 1999
Friday October 29 11:13 AM ET Shortage of One Type of Penicillin WASHINGTON (AP) - A shortage of one type of intravenous penicillin, which began last spring, has worsened, sparking the government to urge doctors to use remaining supplies carefully. But the Food and Drug Administration said there is no need for panic: Intravenous penicillin G is the preferred therapy for only a handful of rare infections. Even for those, other types of penicillin or newer antibiotics are successful treatments. The shortage began in June, when Marsam Pharmaceuticals recalled its IV penicillin G supplies and quit manufacturing. An FDA inspection had cited serious manufacturing deficiencies that it said raised questions about the drug's safety. Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE - news)., the other major manufacturer of IV penicillin G, has back orders with pharmacies awaiting new supplies as soon as it can make them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday published an update telling doctors the shortage had worsened and advising them to use remaining stocks only for those infections where IV penicillin G is the preferred therapy. Those cases: babies born with syphilis; people whose syphilis has spread to the nervous system, which happens in about 5 percent of untreated syphilis cases; and preventing pregnant women from spreading group B strep to the fetus. The CDC told doctors there are alternative antibiotics for these conditions, including other forms of penicillin G not in short supply, and newer antibiotics. Doctors can find the treatment advice at http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/pencillinG.htm on the Internet. The FDA, meanwhile, is trying to increase IV penicillin G supplies by working with Pfizer and other, smaller suppliers to increase production. It also is looking to Europe and other countries where the drug is sold, considering imported supplies. While the drug is preferred treatment for only a few infections, newer antibiotics have a broader range of action, meaning they can fight more kinds of germs at once. Because antibiotic resistance grows whenever germs are exposed to the drugs, doctors prefer to use the narrowest-acting type, so getting new supplies of IV penicillin G is important. _______________________ Geffrey H. Klein, MD -- _______________________ geffrey.klein@obgyn.net 17448 State Hwy 3 Suite 200 Webster, Texas 77598 (713) 741 2273 ext 2628
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