Veterinarians on Alert Due to Amoxicillin Shortage
Veterinarians are on alert as supply interruptions unfold for liquid amoxicillin, a first-line antibiotic commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals.
Much of North America is facing a shortage of amoxicillin in addition to other prescription drugs, VIN News reports. Amoxicillin has become increasingly difficult to find in U.S. and Canadian retail pharmacies. Demand is high and supply is low.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said several of the nation's generic drug manufacturers reported limited supplies of amoxicillin oral powder for suspension, which is typically easier for children and animals such as dogs, cats and birds to consume in liquid form.
On Oct. 28, FDA listed amoxicillin oral solution in its drug shortage database. Shortages can occur for many reasons, including manufacturing and quality problems, delays and discontinuations. There also have been reports of high demand for amoxicillin due to respiratory illnesses, VIN News reports.
A spokeswoman for a key manufacturer of amoxicillin, Sandoz, said significant demand in the U.S., Europe and Canada prompted a "supply situation" that has been exacerbated by the impact of the pandemic, manufacturing constraints and the energy crisis, NBC reports.
Some veterinarians are stocking up on the antibiotic, while others are not concerned. FDA said stockpiling hard-to-find drugs is a common coping strategy, but it can exacerbate shortages.
Aaron Lower, DVM, president and partner of Carthage Veterinary Service, says, "The availability is constrained and we've seen a dramatic increase in cost. There are some veterinary-specific suppliers of amoxicillin that seem to have supply, though. That is what we have moved to. Or, in some cases, we are moving classes of antibiotics."
The amoxicillin shortage speaks to the fragility and complexity of global drug supply chains, VIN News reports. Drug manufacturers blame shortages on pharmaceutical supply chain disruptions. Since the pandemic's start in 2020, COVID-19 has complicated the issue even more.
China is the world's biggest supplier of source materials that go into developing active pharmaceutical ingredients, VIN News reports. With China's periodic lockdowns in response to COVID-19 outbreaks, manufacturing facilities have also taken a hit in the process and are slowing down the supply chain.
If there is any upside to the antibiotic scarcity, some veterinarians believe it helps prevent overuse. The World Health Organization says antimicrobial resistance is one of the world's greatest threats.
Read more:
The Elephant In The Barn: Why We Can’t Ignore This Risk on the Pig Farm
Wind, PRRS and Pig Farm Biosecurity: Learn from Our Outbreak
