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Published on September 2, 2009 AAP News 2009, doi:aapnews.20090902-1 © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics
Options for obtaining erythromycin ophthalmic ointment during shortageThe short supply of erythromycin (0.5%) ophthalmic ointment has led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to offer guidance for obtaining supplies of the ointment during the shortage.Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is the recommended prophylaxis for ophthalmia neonatorum. Tetracycline ophthalmic ointment and silver nitrate are no longer available in the United States. Fera Phamaceuticals, which recently acquired the rights to the product, is actively working to make the ointment available. In the meantime, Bausch and Lomb is ramping up production to help alleviate the shortage and will distribute product through the following wholesalers identified on the FDA Web site: AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health Inc., McKesson Corp. (5mg/gram 1 gram tube, package of 50, NDC 24208-0910-19 and 3.5 gram tube, package of 1, NDC 24308-0910-55). Providers are encouraged to visit the FDA’s Drug Shortages Web site, which will be updated regularly with information on the availability of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment, www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages. Additional questions may be directed to the CDC contact, Roxanne Barrow, M.D. (RBarrow{at}cdc.gov) or the FDA (drugshortages{at}fda.hhs.gov).
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