September 10, 2009
A serious national shortage of erythromycin (0.5%) ophthalmic ointment has resulted in some hospitals depleting their supplies of this product and others having only a limited supply. To address this shortage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended alternate medications to use for prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum when erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is not available. These include azithromycin (1%) ophthalmic solution, gentamicin (0.3%) ophthalmic ointment, or tobramycin (0.3%) ophthalmic ointment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to secure additional supplies of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment.

Read the AAP News article on options for obtaining erythromycin eye ointment.

Click on the following links for additional information on the erythromycin (0.5%) ophthalmic ointment shortage:

• FDA statement on the shortage

• CDC recommendations for alternatives to erythromycin ophthalmic ointment in newborns

• CDC guidance on the shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment