Hospitals in the U.S are running out of saline solution due to an increase in demand. The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are already in talks with suppliers to address this growing concern.
Saline solution is an intravenous (IV) fluid commonly used to hydrate patients in a hospital. It is also infused through an IV line to keep patients' veins open for IV medications.
Since it is commonly used, hospitals usually store numerous boxes of it. However, there came a series of unfortunate events.
Aside from the announcement of manufacturers about an expected late filling of saline solutions, an outbreak of influenza in the continent is feared to consume all reserved saline solutions in hospitals.
According to Valerie Jensen, FDA's associate director for drug shortages, the agency hasn't received any report about a deficit in the saline solution. Yet, there is still a foreseeable shortage.
"We have heard from our members all over the country that the shortage is serious," said American Society of Health System Pharmacists director of medication use quality improvement Bona Benjamin to Reuters. "People are able to cobble together enough of a supply to get by day to day."
For now, in able to manage the saline shortage, hospitals are reserving IV saline solutions for the most in need. If possible, they use smaller saline bags and set it to drip at a slower pace, or just use oral hydration fluids to keep patients hydrated.
The FDA has also reached out to the three major manufacturers -- Baxter International Inc., B. Braun Medical Inc., and Hospira Inc. -- to do something about the shortage.
As a response, Baxter has already doubled its production of saline solution. It has also managed inventory to guarantee adequate supplies to those highly in need. Hospira, on the other hand, said it is doing all it can to cope up with the demand. It is also speeding up shipments of the saline solution to allay local supply disruptions.
The FDA is also looking at possible replacements to help address the scarcity such as getting supplies overseas.
