Hurricane disrupts IV fluid manufacturing as hospitals cope with chaos

Editor's Note

The shuttering of a critical Baxter International manufacturing plant in North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene could put significant stress on already strained healthcare supply chain, according to an October 1 report in Axios.

According to the article, the facility is a critical production center for produces intravenous (IV) fluids and dialysis solutions. Its temporary closure due to severe flooding has raised concerns about potential shortages of these supplies.

While damage assessments are ongoing, the company has started lining up contingency plans, including backup production facilities, Axios reports. Meanwhile, experts cited in the article recommend that healthcare facilities assess inventories and consider workarounds, such as encouraging patients to hydrate orally or manually administering medications via syringe.

Federal agencies, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, are expected to play a key role in managing the fallout, Axios reports. These agencies may expedite reviews of alternative drug applications and work with manufacturers to increase capacity for IV fluid production.

The article also offers context on how this disruption follows other recent natural disasters that have similarly affected drug supply chains, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of key medical production sites. Lessons from past crises, such as Hurricane Maria and the COVID-19 pandemic, have prompted a rethinking of disaster preparedness strategies within the healthcare system.

As reported by North Carolina Health News, hospitals elsewhere in the hard-hit state are working through communication disruptions, water failures, and other issues to continue caring for patients. The head of the state healthcare association characterized the situation as one of “managed chaos.”