Cefotaxime short stock advice

There is currently variable availability for some of the cephalosporin antibiotic treatments commonly held in GP bags/practices for treating suspected bacterial meningitis reported in pharmacies and their wholesalers. Stock currently varies across wholesalers at any time and depending on your practice’s current treatment preferences and whether you use any of your current stock, you may, or may not, be affected. To assist when you try to replenish used stock, below is a list of preferential antibiotic choice order for this indication (advised by Gloucestershire microbiology specialists) in case your usual choice is unobtainable.

a) Cefotaxime

b) Ceftriaxone

c) Benzylpenicillin

Please revert to cefotaxime when it becomes available and only replenish stock when used, to avoid precipitating further shortages.