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Boy in hospital with IV

Baxter airlifting IV fluid supplies from overseas; urging conservation

October 18, 2024

Editor’s note: For more coverage of drug, immunization and medical device supply shortages, visit https://bit.ly/AAPNewsDrugShortages.

Baxter International will start airlifting intravenous (IV) solutions to the U.S. from overseas facilities this weekend to help address supply shortages, but health officials continue to urge clinicians to conserve these products.

Baxter’s North Cove plant in North Carolina, which produces a significant portion of the country’s IV fluid and peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions, closed in late September due to flooding from Hurricane Helene. Supply disruptions caused by the closure came on top of existing shortages of several IV solutions and have led to hospitals postponing surgeries, according to news reports.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to import 23 IV and peritoneal fluids from international facilities, and several government agencies have been supporting efforts to airlift products to the U.S.

Each flight will have about 150,000 to 250,000 units, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Baxter projects about 18,000 tons of products from Europe and Asia will be imported by the end of the year. Distribution of the products will be expedited using normal channels.

Baxter officials said they are focusing on site remediation and equipment assessment so the North Cove plant can restart production as quickly as possible. HHS recently invoked the Defense Production Act to help with these efforts.

Baxter also recently transported more than 450 truckloads of products produced before the hurricane. Allocations for the IV fluids in highest demand are 60%, and the company said its goal is to reach 90% to 100% by the end of the year.

Due to their vulnerability, Baxter will prioritize pediatric patients. Children’s hospital allocations for IV products have increased to 100%. In addition, the only new peritoneal dialysis patients being accepted are pediatric patients.

In other efforts to improve supplies, the FDA said it would consider requests from manufacturers to extend expiration dates for some IV fluid products. It also has released guidance that increases flexibility around compounding certain parenteral drug products. The guidance does not require use of the products within 24 hours and does not include provision about distribution beyond a one-mile radius.

Despite these efforts, Baxter noted “conservation efforts for IV and PD solutions remain essential.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compiled advice on conservation from several expert groups and released it this week in a health advisory.

“Healthcare providers, pharmacists, healthcare facility administrators, and state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments, regardless of supply chain disruptions, should immediately assess their supply and develop plans and mitigation strategies to reduce the impact on patient care,” according to the advisory.

Health care professionals and customers with questions about Baxter products can reach out to their Baxter representative or email [email protected].

 

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