Sanford Guide ID Update features current developments in infectious diseases, curated by the Sanford Guide Editorial Board. Links marked with an asterisk (*) provide details to Web Edition subscribers, while all other links are universal. If you received this message from a colleague, subscribe now.
MARCH 24, 2020
SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19
- Sanford Guide SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 material is freely available to all for the course of the pandemic. Click the link above.
- We advocate STAY AT HOME except for essential activities, e.g., food, medicines, healthcare and essential work such as police, fire, sanitation and healthcare.
- AVOID CROWDS AND/OR CONGESTED AREAS. AVOID COMPLACENCY!
2020 Sanford Guides
- We anticipate that 2020 print editions of The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy will become available in the coming weeks. To receive a notice as soon as the books are released, sign up here.
New or Updated Treatment Guidelines
- Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of Clostridioides difficile* infection, from the Spanish Society of Chemotherapy, Spanish Society of internal Medicine, and the working group of Postoperative Infection of the Spanish Society of Anesthesia and Reanimation (Rev Esp Quimioter 2020 Feb 20 [Epub ahead of print]). This CPG is available for download on the journal website.
- Guidelines for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile* infection in Taiwan, from the 2018 Guidelines Recommendations for Evidence-based Antimicrobial agents use in Taiwan working group, endorsed by Infectious Diseases Society of Taiwan (J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2020 Feb 14 [Epub ahead of print]). The guidelines are available on the journal website.
- Updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic inflammatory diseases*, issued jointly by the French National College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians and the French-language Society for Infectious Diseases (J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2020 Feb 20 [Epub ahead of print]).
- Revised consensus guidelines for therapeutic monitoring of vancomycin* for serious MRSA* infections, from the ASHP, IDSA, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), and SIDP (Am J Health Syst Pharm 2020 Mar 19 [Epub ahead of print]). These guidelines update the 2009 release and are available for download on the journal website.
Drug Shortages (US)
- Antimicrobial drugs or vaccines in reduced supply or unavailable (as of March 20, 2020) due to increased demand, manufacturing delays, product discontinuation by a specific manufacturer, or unspecified reasons:
- [New on the list since February 8]: Benzylpenicilloyl polylysine (Pre-Pen), Ceftazidime/avibactam, Chloroquine tablets, Gemifloxacin tablets, Gentamicin injection, Hydroxychloroquine tablets, Methenamine hippurate tablets, Neomycin and Polymyxin B sulfates and Dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment
- [Shortage recently resolved]: Erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment, Metronidazole injection, Tuberculin (PPD)
- [Continue to be in reduced supply]
- Aminoglycosides: Amikacin injection, Gentamicin ophthalmic ointment (unavailable), Tobramycin injection
- Carbapenems: Meropenem injection
- Cephalosporins: Cefazolin injection, Cefepime injection, Cefotaxime injection (FDA is allowing temporary importation of product from SteriMax in Canada, in conjunction with Apollo Pharmaceuticals and its distributor FFF Enterprises. Click here for details), Cefoxitin injection, Ceftazidime injection, Cefuroxime injection
- Clindamycin injection
- Fluoroquinolones: Ciprofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution, Gemifloxacin tablets
- Glycopeptides, glycolipopeptides, lipopeptides: Daptomycin injection, Vancomycin injection
- Macrolides/azalides: Azithromycin injection, Azithromycin ophthalmic solution 1% (unavailable), Erythromycin lactobionate injection
- Nitrofurantoin oral suspension
- Nitroimidazoles: None
- Penicillins: Ampicillin/sulbactam injection, Piperacillin/tazobactam injection
- Tetracyclines: None
- Topical (miscellaneous) antibacterials: Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment, Mupirocin calcium 2% cream, Mupirocin calcium 2% nasal ointment (unavailable), Neomycin and Polymyxin B sulfates GU irrigant, Sulfacetamide 10%/Prednisolone 0.2% ophthalmic ointment (unavailable), Sulfanilamide 15% vaginal cream (unavailable)
- Antifungal drugs: Clotrimazole 10 mg oral troches, Fluconazole injection, Griseofulvin oral tablets and suspension
- Antiparasitic drugs: Pentamidine isethionate
- Antiretroviral drugs: None
- Antiviral drugs: Acyclovir injection, Cidofovir injection
- Vaccines: Hepatitis B vaccine recombinant, Zoster vaccine recombinant (Shingrix), Yellow Fever vaccine (YF-VAX is unavailable, but Stamaril can be obtained through a limited number of clinics in the US. Click here).
- Antimicrobial drugs newly discontinued:
- Recent discontinuations: Bacitracin inection (in February 2020), Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A, in October 2019), Quinidine gluconate IV (in December 2017), Terbinafine granules (in May 2017), MenHibrix (in February 2017), Elvitegravir (Vitekta, in December 2016), Peginterferon alfa-2b (in February 2016; 50 mcg vials still available in limited quantities), Boceprevir (in December 2015), Permethrin 1% topical lotion (in September 2015).
- For detailed information including estimated resupply dates, see https://www.ashp.org/Drug-Shortages/