It has emerged that three more children have died from strep A and UK pharmacists have been told they can supply alternative antibiotics to those originally prescribed, in a bid to ease shortages of certain forms of penicillin.
Figures from the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) show that at least 19 children have died in the UK, while there have been 7,750 cases of scarlet fever so far this season. That’s more than triple the 2,538 at the same time of year in the last relatively high season of 2017 to 2018.
However, the increase in notices came at a different time that year. In 2017 to 2018, there were a total of 30,768 reports of scarlet fever.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued Serious Shortage Protocols (SSP) for three penicillin drugs amid increased demand for the antibiotics.
Pharmacists and GPs in the UK have faced serious difficulties securing supplies of penicillin and amoxicillin, antibiotics used to treat infections including strep A. As a result, parents report having to visit a series of pharmacies to to get medicines prescribed for their sick children, while the prices of some antibiotics have skyrocketed – a situation that pharmacists say has left them facing losses.
Steve Barclay, the health minister, earlier said there was no shortage of antibiotics and stocks could be moved if areas were experiencing supply problems.
However, on Monday the DHSC, which Barclay oversees, issued a supply warning for certain antibiotics used to treat infections such as strep A.
On Wednesday, Prof Susan Hopkins, UKHSA’s chief medical adviser, told a webinar organized by the Royal Society of Medicine that there had been a significant increase in demand for some antibiotics.
“I’ve been told in the last few days that we’re using five times as much penicillin as we used three weeks ago,” she said, adding that while “there may be some backdoor profiteering” it won’t affect patients.
It was announced on Wednesday that the Competition and Markets Authority will look into rising antibiotic prices.
SSPs eliminate the need for the patient to return to the prescriber to obtain a new prescription if a drug is not available. Instead, pharmacists can legally dispense a specified alternative.
We hope this will make it easier for patients to access the medicines they need, while also saving time for GP practices.
The new SSPs, which are classified as active until January 31, apply to three medicines: phenoxymethylpenicillin 250 mg/5 ml oral solution sugar-free, phenoxymethylpenicillin 250 mg/5 ml oral solution and phenoxymethylpenicillin 125 mg/5 ml oral solution sugar-free.
According to the DHSC, there are currently nine other active SSPs, many of which are HRT drugs.
Health Secretary Will Queens said: “The increased demand for antibiotics prescribed to treat strep A means that some pharmacists are unable to supply the medicine on the prescription.
“These acute shortage protocols will allow pharmacists to supply an alternative form of penicillin, making things easier for them, patients and GPs.
“We are taking decisive action to address these temporary issues and improve access to these medicines by continuing to work with manufacturers and wholesalers to expedite supplies, provide the stock they have to ensure that will get where it’s needed and increase supply to meet demand as quickly as possible.”
Speaking on Wednesday, Hopkins added that a “thorough investigation” was underway into those who had been severely ill with strep A.
“We know that, for example, about a third of invasive cases had another respiratory virus found at the same time,” she said, noting that perhaps the co-infection means the bacteria are more likely to go to the lungs and cause serious problem. But she added: “It’s speculation at this point.”
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