Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Guidance on Conservation Strategies for IV Fluids Due to Recent Acute Shortage

As many of you are aware, the U.S. has been experiencing an acute shortage of certain IV fluids, mainly involving 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, 0.45% Sodium Chloride Injection, Lactated Ringer's Injection and 5% Dextrose Injection, that is not expected to resolve until May or June, 2014. The main reasons for the shortages have been related to increased demand (patients with influenza who are hospitalized) combined with a planned maintenance shutdown of one of the manufacturers.

Please follow this link to a March 20, 2014 fact sheet, Intravenous Solution Conservation Strategies, which includes a list of potential actions to conserve and manage these intravenous solutions during the shortage. The document was compiled by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the University of Utah Drug Information Service.

For more information, please contact Judy Hughes, Section Chief, Acute and Community Program, Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division, at Judy.Hughes@state.co.us or 303-692-2908.