Hospitals Face IV Fluid Shortages Following Hurricane Helene
Hospitals across the United States are experiencing a significant shortage of sterile intravenous (IV) fluids as a result of Hurricane Helene, which has disrupted supply chains.
The situation arose after Baxter International, the largest manufacturer of IV solutions in the US, announced that it would be reducing shipments to hospitals by approximately 40%. This decision comes in the wake of severe flooding that impacted its manufacturing plant located in Marion, North Carolina.
Dr. Paul Biddinger, chief preparedness and continuity officer at Mass General Brigham in Boston, shared this update during a conference call, noting that the facility was unable to operate due to the damage caused by the hurricane. While Mass General Brigham is currently able to treat patients as normal, they are taking measures to conserve their IV fluid supplies. This includes utilizing oral hydration methods, such as Gatorade or water, for patients who are stable enough, and implementing strategies to avoid wasting partially used IV fluid bags when transferring patients within the hospital.
Biddinger indicated that Mass General Brigham utilizes hundreds of thousands of liters of IV fluids each month, emphasizing the importance of these fluids in patient care.
“Our intent is to preserve clinical care in the face of this shortage as long as we possibly can,” he stated.
The facility is actively working to gauge how long their current supplies will last amid the uncertainty.
Other manufacturers of IV fluids in the US exist; however, they typically prioritize the needs of their existing customers, which complicates the situation. Additionally, the possibility of obtaining IV fluids from European manufacturers is limited due to pre-existing global shortages, according to Soumi Saha, senior vice president of government affairs at Premier, a group purchasing organization for hospital supplies.
Baxter attributed the flooding to a breach in a levee and noted that damage to bridges leading to the plant has further complicated recovery efforts. The company is collaborating with government and health agencies to assess the extent of the damage and formulate a plan for resuming production as soon as feasible. Before the hurricane made landfall, Baxter took precautionary steps by evacuating workers and relocating products to higher ground or secure storage.
This is not the first time Baxter has faced disruptions; a similar incident occurred in 2017 when Hurricane Maria impacted its plant in Puerto Rico. Baxter holds a substantial market share in the US IV solutions sector, with over 50% of the market, as noted by Wells Fargo analyst Larry Biegelsen.
IV fluids, typically infused with salts, sugars, and electrolytes, play a crucial role in medical care, from hydrating patients before and during surgery to supporting kidney dialysis. Saha described these products as essential but not particularly profitable, highlighting their importance in a hospital setting.
“You go in for anything, and the first thing that they’re doing is hanging an IV bag,” Saha said.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working closely with Baxter and may expedite the review process for the plant’s manufacturing lines once they are cleaned and restored. However, the duration of the shortages may depend on the extent of the plant’s damage. If flooding has compromised the facility’s ability to meet FDA standards for sterility and stability, the recertification process could take up to 90 days.
With input from the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.
