What Are Some Causes of Antimicrobial Shortages?

Milena McLaughlin, PharmD, MSc, assistant professor, Pharmacy Practice, Midwestern State University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, explains the main causes of antimicrobial shortages.

Interview Transcript (slightly modified for readability)

“The main causes of antimicrobial shortages can be broken down into two different frames. So, there are decreased supply issues such as manufacturing issues, if they can’t get the active ingredients, or regulatory issues, if they can’t have one of their lines inspected, and then there is increase demand. So, if there’s a drug that goes on shortage and then there’s an alternative to that drug, everyone’s going to be buying that alternative and then that drug would then go on shortage. The drugs at greatest risk for a shortage would be generic injectable medications that have a single manufacturer.”