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Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment shortage prompts FDA to request physicians use alternative medications
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A shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment has led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ask physicians to treat superficial ocular infections involving the conjunctiva or cornea with other medications until the supply can be increased.
Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is the only product approved for prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum from Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis in the U.S.
"While erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is also approved for the treatment of superficial ocular infections involving the conjunctiva and/or cornea caused by organisms susceptible to erythromycin, health care providers are asked to consider alternative drugs for this indication during this time of shortage to maximize the availability of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment for prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum," according to a press release on the FDA Web site.
According to the FDA, the shortage was caused by a change in manufacturers of the drug. Manufacturers Fera Pharmaceuticals, which recently obtained rights to the product, and Bausch & Lomb are increasing production of the drug.
The shortage will most likely occur in 1 g and 3.5 g tubes.
A press release from the American Academy of Ophthalmology said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is making recommendations for prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum, should the drug become unavailable.
"Hospitals should contact the FDA drug shortage e-mail account drugshortages@fda.hhs.gov if their local wholesale distributor is unable to supply the drug directly," the AAO release said.