September’s Hurricane Helene damaged the largest manufacturer of intravenous or IV fluids in the U.S. Baxter Manufacturing makes IV supplies for medical facilities. IV fluids deliver medicine, water, and nutrients into a patient’s bloodstream. Many hospitals have postponed nonemergency surgeries to conserve IV supplies for medical emergencies. Other IV manufacturing plants in the U.S. have increased production to help address the shortage.

The FDA has begun importing and assessing IV products from Baxter plants in other countries, with 100,000 units on each shipment. The shortage is improving, with about 50% more IV products available now than there were immediately after the hurricane.

Power and water are back on at the Baxter Manufacturing plant, and the company believes it can start production again by the end of this year.

The FDA has also released guidelines for pharmacies to produce IV drugs that are in short supply to help fill gaps during the shortage.

Hospitals continue to get IV fluids from FDA-approved sources, and the IV supply is steadily increasing.

We are still learning when the IV supply will be back to pre-hurricane levels.