The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) provided the following alert today:
As you may be aware, there is a national shortage of large-volume 0.9% sodium chloride intravenous solution. ASHP has received the following information about the shortage from FDA:
- The agency is aware of the seriousness of the shortage and is actively monitoring the situation, as well as pursuing options for importation.
- The shortage is a result of a recent manufacturing delay at Hospira coupled with an unusual spike in demand on all three major suppliers.
- The three affected firms are operating at full production but are still experiencing difficulty meeting increased demand.
We encourage clinicians to take note of the conservation strategies described in the ASHP Drug Shortages Bulletin as well as the recommended therapeutic alternatives and safety considerations.
Note: 0.9% sodium chloride for irrigation is not approved for injection because it may have higher levels of particulates.
The bulletin is posted on the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center at http://www.ashp.org/