A critical antibiotic shortage set to plague Australia for several months means patients won’t have access to their usual medications with more than 300 largely unavailable.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration added another 30 medicines to its shortage database on Monday, bringing the total number of scarce medicines to 394.

A whopping 45 of those medications are considered critical with one used for the palliative care of cancer patients.  

Children’s liquid antibiotics are especially limited, with families being forced to travel to different pharmacies just to find the medications they need. 

Other hard-up medicines include those used to treat pneumonia, epilepsy and strep throat. The contrast dye used for medical imaging is also in short stock. 

 The Therapeutic Goods Administration’s medicine shortage database shows 394 medications, 45 of which are considered critical, are in low supply

Another 77 medicines are expected to be added to the shortage database in the coming months.

Sydney GP Hester Wilson said the shortage is an ‘astounding’ reminder of Australia’s dependence on overseas suppliers.

‘It really brings home to me the fragility of our supply lines and that we should be considering manufacturing some of these medications back in Australia,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Read Related Also: Can You Eat Too Much Fruit? Dietitians Discuss the Downsides of Nature's Candy

Melbourne pharmacist Andrew Farmer also pointed out the danger of relying on international vendors, especially when Australia doesn’t off a competitive market.

‘We are such a small slice of the world pharmaceutical industry pie, and we also don’t pay top dollar like the US, we’re not the first priority as far as getting stock into the country,’ he said.

The shortages mean doctors are having to find alternative medications for patients that can be more expensive, not as effective or build antibiotic resistance.

The news comes as paediatricians continue to struggle with a jump in infections caused by the Group A streptococcus bacteria.

The bacteria, found in the throat and on the skin, is known to cause a range of infections including strep throat, scarlet fever and cellulitis.

Usually infection only causes mild symptoms but rare cases could see life-threatening conditions develop, including blood poisoning, necrotising fasciitis (a flesh-eating bacteria), toxic shock syndrome, pneumonia and meningitis.

Safer Care Victoria said two children died from Group A streptococcal infections in 2022 and more than 60 were hospitalised. 

‘In 2022, there was a marked increase in the number of cases of Group A streptococcal infections,’ it said.

‘There were at least three deaths from invasive streptococcal infections or toxic shock syndrome, including two caused by Group A streptococcus, and many other children required intensive care.’