Shortage of Children's Antibiotics Resolved
Germany's children's antibiotic shortage finally declared over by health authorities
Berlin – The shortage of children's antibiotics has been lifted, with liquid antibiotic formulations now sufficiently available again, according to the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).
On April 19, 2023, the BMG declared a supply shortage of antibiotic oral suspensions for children. While a general shortage of children's antibiotics was resolved in June of last year, liquid formulations containing the active ingredients erythromycin, clindamycin, cotrimoxazole, and cefuroxime remained in limited supply.
However, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) now assesses that the supply situation for these antibiotic suspensions has since stabilized.
"Based on the inventory and release data available to the BfArM, overall supply is expected to remain stable in the coming months," stated the Advisory Board on Supply and Shortage Situations. "The supply shortage under Section 79(5) of the Medicinal Products Act (AMG) will be lifted promptly." This decision has now been officially published in the Federal Gazette.
During the shortage, pharmacies maintained supply by preparing customized formulations—typically suspensions. A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture in which solid particles are finely dispersed, rather than dissolved, in a liquid carrier. To prevent clumping, the active ingredient should be finely powdered before being mixed with the liquid.
When tablets are used as the base material, challenges may arise: the density is not always known, sedimentation behavior can vary, and the sediment must be easily resuspendable with shaking, then settle within a reasonable time (short-term homogeneity) to ensure precise and reliable dosing. To allow for proper shaking, the dispensing container should be at least twice the volume of the prepared medication.
