Treatment interruptions and inconsistent supply of anti-tuberculosis drugs in the United Kingdom
OBJECTIVES: To describe NHS TB treatment centres' experience of obtaining anti-tuberculosis drugs to treat drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB between 2007 and 2009. In particular: 1) any difficulties experienced in obtaining different drugs; 2) resulting interruptions or alterations in the prescribed regimen; 3) availability of paediatric formulations; and 4) resources available to identify and manage drug shortages.
DESIGN: Questionnaires were sent to pharmacists at 168 treatment centres.
RESULTS: Of the 77 (46%) treatment centres that responded, 63% (48/77) reported difficulties in obtaining anti-tuberculosis drugs. Consequently, 27% had to interrupt the prescribed treatment regimen at least once, whilst 19% had to alter the regimen. Of 55 centres treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, 36% reported difficulties obtaining second-line drugs, 16% had to interrupt the prescribed treatment regimen at least once and 5% had to alter the regimen. A lack of licensed liquid formulations for children resulted in 26% of treatment centres using unlicensed, variable-strength liquids and locally prepared suspensions.
CONCLUSIONS: Difficulties obtaining drugs to treat both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant disease are common in the UK. There are particular risks for children. Our data identify an urgent need for national strategic guidance to ensure a consistent and reliable supply of anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Keywords: United Kingdom; drugs; essential; health resources; tuberculosis
Document Type: Regular Paper
Affiliations: 1: Pharmacy Department, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK 2: All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Tuberculosis, London, UK 3: HIV and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Thoracic Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
Publication date: 01 June 2011
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