A systematic review of antibiotic drug shortages and the strategies employed for managing these shortages

The study examines the impact of antibiotic shortages on patient outcomes and antimicrobial resistance. It aims to assess patterns and causes of shortages, investigate their effects on health systems and patient outcomes, and identify strategies for forecasting and managing them. The analysis includes 74 studies, with most reporting piperacillin-tazobactam shortages. The most common cause was disruption in manufacturing, leading to increased hospital stays, treatment failure, and negative impacts on antimicrobial stewardship programs. The study concludes that antibiotic shortages are driven by economic viability and reliance on single-source ingredients. Mitigation strategies rely heavily on AMS teams.