Strep Throat Is Surging, Alongside an Antibiotic Shortage

COVIDRelevant precautions have minimized spread Many other infectious diseases. But now those bugs are back with some new challenges. CDC report A streptococcal infection (aka streptococcal throat) caused by a bacterium known as Streptococcussurged from covid lows to above pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and 2023. and tThe recent surge in streptococcal cases coincides with a shortage of one of the most commonly used drugs to treat infections, especially in children. Monday’s NPR Report.

Nationwide, the largest sustained increase in the number of the most serious streptococcal infections (known as invasive Group A streptococcal infections) has been observed in children, according to the CDC.and children It is the group most affected by the ongoing antibiotic shortage.

Currently, many doses of liquid amoxicillin, the gooey bright pink drug best suited for pediatric streptococcal infections, It is insufficient, according to the Food and Drug Administration. And it’s been this way for months. Since October 2022, many forms and brands of powders used in liquid amoxicillin formulations have been in official shortage status by the FDA. Most of the pharmaceutical companies that make them cite “increasing demand for this drug” as the reason for its limited availability.

Streptococcus infection levels are higher than normal in the past but do not appear to have reached record levels in recent months. often depend on. Sales data to inform their production.IUsing the year of the pandemic as a data point, many of these drug makers have miscalculated.

“Companies usually look at the previous year’s sales figures. They may adjust a little.” Erin FoxA drug use and policy researcher at the University of Utah, told NPR. “We had a very serious respiratory season this year, and it was simply a mismatch between what people made and what was available,” she added.

There are alternative options for treating streptococcal infections.Your doctor may prescribe other doses Or certain liquid form pills of amoxicillin. but, Getting a child to swallow pills or large amounts of liquid medicine can be difficult.

D.Octor sometimes prescribes drugs, unaware that they are in short supply. Put the responsibility on the patient or patient’s family to navigate the pharmacy system and find what they were told they needed. Kaitlyn RiversAn epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, she told NPR she had to go to multiple pharmacies to find a prescription antibiotic for her child. It just adds another strain to what has been a tough winter breathing season,” she told the outlet.

But despite the inconvenience, getting proper medicine for streptococci is Very important. Untreated streptococcal infection serious long-term consequences organ damage or rheumatic fever.

The worst period for streptococcal infections is often between December and April, so the spike in cases and the accompanying struggle to find drugs could quickly subside. But years of the pandemic have disrupted many seasonal cycles of infection, and there’s no guarantee that easing will come next month, Rivers said.

Over the past year, FDA has declared shortage For many commonly prescribed drugs, Including other antibiotics. For other missing items, certain types of ADHD drugs, such as immediate release Adderall and a new class of multiple brands diabetes medicine It is also often used for weight loss. This is due to a combination of supply chain disruptions, increased demand, and other factors.

Regardless of cause, drug shortages significant adverse effects upon Healthcare, quality of life, health. out of despair, some people found out Sources of unsafe medicines, Like pharmacies outside the US You may not be selling the product as labeled.