Antibiotic shortages
Canada continues to experience supply issues related to some antibiotics.
Similar to the pediatric analgesic situation, the antibiotic shortages are the result of overwhelming demand we saw this cold and flu season that was driven by a surge in respiratory infections, particularly among children. While manufacturers reported a demand increase of 300-400% this season, as of March 2023 there are positive indicators that demand has levelled off and the supply situation will continue to improve.
CPhA has been involved in regular discussions with Health Canada and other key stakeholders to represent pharmacists and collaborate on strategies to alleviate the impact on our patients.
Information and resources
- Q&A for pharmacy professionals: What you need to know about antibiotic shortages
- Therapeutic alternatives to amoxicillin for common pediatric conditions: Clinical resource from CPhA and medSask
- Managing critical drug shortages in clinical practice: Guidance document from the Canadian Paediatric Society
- Drug Shortages Canada database
Antibiotic stewardship
- Common Community Infections - Key Clinical Pearls (CPhA)
- Optimizing Duration of Therapy: Is Shorter Smarter? (CPhA)
- Viral Prescription Pad (RxFiles)
- Using Antibiotics Wisely (Choosing Wisely Canada)
- Antibiotic Stewardship Resources (University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (Public Health Ontario)
Information for parents and caregivers
- How to make sure antibiotics are the right choice (Canadian Paediatric Society)
Last updated: March 31, 2023