Decrease in stock. The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) confirmed on Friday that amoxicillin, an antibiotic, is subject to “strong supply tensions”.
“The most impacted forms are mainly the drinkable suspensions in bottles, which in the city are mostly prescribed to children,” specifies the public establishment attached to the Ministry of Health.
The ANSM also indicates that the forms most affected by these tensions – which affect “all of Europe” but also “other international markets” – are Clamoxyl and Augmentin, “the most prescribed in children”. The current supply does not cover the growing demand since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Non-prescription “in situations that do not require it”
Developed with various health authorities, the recommendations issued this Friday by the ANSM are aimed at both doctors, pharmacists and patients and parents of minor patients.
Regarding doctors, the ANSM recalls that antibiotics, including amoxicillin, “should not be prescribed in situations that do not require it”, more frequently when the infection is of viral origin. In this case, doctors are asked to issue an over-the-counter prescription to their patients. If an antibiotic is necessary, it is recommended to “limit the duration of treatment to 5 days” “in the most common infectious diseases”.
In the case of acute purulent otitis media “in infants and children”, the ANSM recommends that doctors start antibiotic therapy immediately if the baby is less than six months old or if the otitis becomes complicated. It is also recommended in case of absence of improvement in 36-48 hours under an antipyretic in infants older than six months.
A waiver very often for a period of 5 days.
Faced with these strong tensions, the ANSM calls on pharmacists to verify the presence of the result of the Rapid Diagnostic Orientation Test (TROD) before any prescription of amoxicillin. Alternatively, they may perform an angina Trod if a patient presents with angina symptoms and without prior consultation.
In the case of prescription of antibiotics, the National Medicines Agency asks to dispense “to the extent possible these antibiotics in containers adapted to a duration of 5 days”, a recommended duration for the most common infectious pathologies. Finally, it is recommended in particular that community pharmacies give priority to the distribution of medicines by unit.
No efficacy against viral infections
The ANSM also sends a reminder vaccine for patients and parents of young patients: antibiotics “are not effective against viral infections, including bronchiolitis, influenza, Covid-19, nasopharyngitis and the vast majority of sore throats and otitis “.
“Amoxicillin can be prescribed by a doctor only to treat bacterial infections,” underlines the agency that refers to the Health Insurance site for any information in case of fever or bronchiolitis in children.
Source: BFM TV
