Shortage of pentamidine isethionate

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of pentamidine isethionate. This drug shortage is apparently a shortage of the active principal ingredient, based on the manufacturer's information in the ASHP bulletin. This drug is a very important treatment for Pneumocystis carinii* pneumonia, particularly for people who cannot take the sulfonamide combination trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. A PCP infection is likely after the immune system is suppressed for the sake of an organ transplant, chemotherapy, or by HIV. This infection occurs so frequently and the mortality is so high that prophylactic treatment with nebulized pentamidine is common. The injectable formulation of the drug is used off-label for trypanosomiasis and visceral leishmaniasis.

*This organism has recently been reclassified as Pneumocystis jurovecii.