One is underway deficiency Of specific antibiotics to treat infections from Streptococcus, the common bacterium that occurs most frequently among children. The wave of infections remains high and so does the request of drugs. The most recent case is that ofamoxicillina first choice product in the pediatric age for the contrast of the bacterium, which has started to be in short supply since 2021 in some formulations intended for hospital use up to the territorial and primary care level.
With the end of the pandemic from COVID-19 and the progressive loosening of protective measures such as masks and distancing, Streptococcus infection, especially in younger children, has started again. Thanks to the new explosion of cases, the antibiotics used to combat the bacterium are not found in abundance, especially amoxicillin. The Health Councilor of the Emilia-Romagna Region Raffaele Donini he spoke about it in the Regional Council in recent days, assuring his commitment to deal with the problem. In general, the issue is now at the center of attention not only in our country and in some regions such asEmilia Romagna and the Lombardybut also in European context where work is done to monitor shortcomings in member states.
It also moved Federfarmathe national Federation that represents over 18 thousand private pharmacies, remembering to support the equivalent drugs through the words of the national secretary Roberto Tobia: “The equivalent drug has the same characteristics pharmacological and therapeutic aspects of the branded drug and respects the Three fundamental requirements necessary for each drug to obtain marketing authorization: quality, safety and effectiveness. All equivalents available on the market have been authorized by AIFA and are effective as the branded drugs“. Furthermore, these “have a lower cost as a direct consequence of the expiry of the patent of the active ingredient of which the medicine is composed”, added Tobia. Behind the shortage of antibiotics, in addition to the high demand, there are also other factors such as production problemsthe impact of war and of energy crisis on the costs of active ingredients and packaging.
