What You Need To Know
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have listed Erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment on their respective drug shortage webpages with an estimated recovery timeframe in Q1 2024. Erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment is the only recommended regimen to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum caused by N. gonorrhoeae. Infants born to a patient at risk for gonorrhea or with no prenatal care should be considered for preventative treatment.
If erythromycin ointment is unavailable, ceftriaxone 25–50 mg/kg body weight IV or IM, not to exceed 250 mg in a single dose, can be administered as preventative treatment for infants at risk for exposure to N. gonorrhoeae. Other topical medications are not recommended.
Prenatal screening is the best method for preventing gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum among newborns. All pregnant women < 25 years and women > 25 at increased risk should be screened for N. gonorrhoeae at the first prenatal care visit and again in the third trimester if the risk continues during pregnancy. Patients treated for gonorrhea should be tested for cure according to the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines, 2021.
Current information regarding the availability of erythromycin (0.5%) ophthalmic ointment is available on the FDA Drug Shortage page.
Resources:
2021 CDC STI Treatment Guidelines: www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/syphilis.htm
CDC STD Drug Notice Page: www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/drug-notices.htm
FDA Drug Shortages Page https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/drugshortages/default.cfm
NJDOH STD Program https://www.nj.gov/health/hivstdtb/stds/