Rule Changes Due to Shortage of Erythromycin (0.5%) Ophthalmic Ointment
- September 2009
CDC has created a new web page with updated important guidance and recommendations
for dealing with the shortage of erythromycin (0.5%) ophthalmic ointment and
using alternative treatments. Please share the following link to the web page
broadly. CDC will use this web page for any future updates on this issue.
www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2006/erythromycinOintmentShortage.htm
[CDC]
On September 15, 2009, emergency rules were approved by the Health and Human
Services Commission and filed with the Texas Register, effective on this date.
These rules are in effect for 120 days and show 0.5% erythromycin ophthalmic
ointment, 1% azithromycin ophthalmic solution, 0.3% gentamicin ophthalmic ointment,
and 0.3% tobramycin ophthalmic ointment as the approved prophylactic treatments
for newborns. The rules also direct persons to review guidance issued by the
CDC at the above weblink. DSHS will re-evaluate the situation, and may seek
to extend the emergency rule for an additional 60 days, if warranted.
For treatment questions during the shortage contact:
Dr. Nick Curry 512-533-3001
Dr. Robert Kaspar 512-458-7111 ext. 3200
Click to view answers
to questions received by DSHS regarding the shortage of Erythromycin (0.5%)
Ophthalmic Ointment.
DSHS will continue to monitor the situation, and provide updates as developments
warrant. Updated 9/15/2009
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UPDATE : CDC Erythromycin Ointment Shortage
September 9, 2009
Read more about it.
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CDC Erythromycin Ointment Shortage
August 31, 2009
Read more about it.
Points of contact for Texas:
Dr. Nick Curry 512-533-3001 (Nick.Curry@dshs.state.tx.us)
Dr. Robert Kaspar 512-458-7111 ext.3200 (Bob.Kaspar@dshs.state.tx.us)
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Distributed via Health Alert Network
Thursday, August 06, 2009, 19:00 EDT (7:00 PM EDT)
CDCHAN-00297-2009-08-06-ADV-N
CDC Updates Recommendations for the Amount of Time Persons with Influenza-Like Illness should be Away from Others
On August 5, 2009, CDC changed its recommendation related to the amount of time people with influenza-like illness should stay away from others (the exclusion period). New guidance indicates that people with influenza-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medicine). A fever is defined as having a temperature of 100° Fahrenheit or 37.8° Celsius or greater.
This is a change from the previous recommendation that ill persons stay home for 7 days after illness onset or until 24 hours after the resolution of symptoms, whichever was longer.
The new recommendation applies to camps, schools, businesses, mass gatherings, and other community settings where the majority of people are not at increased risk for influenza complications. CDC recommends this exclusion period regardless of whether or not antiviral medications are used. This guidance does not apply to health care settings where the exclusion period continues to be for 7 days from symptom onset or until 24 hours after the resolution of symptoms, whichever is longer. (See http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_infection_control.htm for guidance on infection control in health care settings.)
Decisions about extending the exclusion period should be made at the community level, in conjunction with local and state health officials. More stringent guidelines and longer periods of exclusion – for example, until complete resolution of all symptoms – may be considered for people returning to a setting where high numbers of high-risk people may be exposed.
This exclusion period guidance for the community setting is based on epidemiologic data about the overall risk of severe illness and death. The new recommendation attempts to balance the risks of acquiring illness from influenza and the potential benefits of decreasing transmission through the exclusion of ill persons with the goal of minimizing social disruption. This guidance will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.
To read the complete revised guidance see: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm
This change in our recommendation has affected content on a number of other pages, including the following:
Visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm for more information on caring for sick persons in the home.
Visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm questions and answers about H1N1 influenza.
For more general information on H1N1, go to http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.