Salbutamol drug shortage

As hospitalization rates increase due to the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), salbutamol has become the first line of defense for COVID-19 patients with respiratory distress in the emergency room [1]. Special populations, such as elderly patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and premature infants with compromised lungs due to the respiratory syncytial virus, rely heavily on salbutamol pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs). In addition, nebulization therapy, typically interchangeable with pMDI use, is not recommended in COVID-19 patients due to the risk of aerosolizing the virus and facilitating its spread [2]. Oral salbutamol (tablets and syrups) is not used for sudden breathing difficulties or asthma attacks. As a result, hospitals are seeing an increase in salbutamol pMDI use and supply has become limited. As a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, salbutamol pMDIs, a staple therapy for millions of asthmatic and COPD patients with respiratory illness, are presently in short supply and on allocation [3, 4].

While the cause of this shortage is multifactorial, at the forefront is salbutamol pMDIs being prescribed and administered to a surging population of COVID-19 patients. Additionally, salbutamol tends to be used at high volume in ventilated patients, which is a complication of those diagnosed with severe COVID-19. In the community, the threat to salbutamol pMDI availability has been openly broadcast by media, and it is believed that there has been a level of personal stockpiling by individual asthma and COPD sufferers. With the pandemic forecasted to last for months, healthcare providers require conservation strategies in order to optimize salbutamol delivery and decrease its waste. Ultimately, a coordinated effort between health authorities, hospitals, clinicians, community pharmacies, and patients is needed to mediate the salbutamol shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conservation strategies to facilitate resource-efficient salbutamol delivery and reduce waste

Exploring the use of intravenous salbutamol

Hospital treatment of acute asthma exacerbations relies on pMDIs and nebulizers for delivery of short-acting β2-agonists (SABAs) and short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMAs) to the lungs, along with corticosteroids. Proper inhalation of inhaled medication is insufficient to reverse bronchospasms in patients who are unable to speak or breathe normally. In cases where pMDI cannot be used reliably, intravenous (IV) salbutamol is approved by Health Canada to treat asthma exacerbations that do not respond to inhaled therapy. However, evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of IV salbutamol during COVID-19 is lacking [7, 8]. IV salbutamol should be given in a high-dependency unit with continuous electrocardiogram monitoring and twice-daily electrolyte monitoring for possible hypokalemia and serum lactate toxicity. Nebulized bronchodilators should be continued while the patient is receiving IV bronchodilators. Once the patient is improving, the IV infusion should be reduced before reducing the frequency of nebulized bronchodilators [9, 10].

Reusing pMDIs

There is considerable literature regarding the reprocessing and reuse of previously issued pMDIs. While a debatable practice, several hospitals have successfully implemented programs related to disinfecting the pMDI nozzle [11,12,13,14]. In one case, cultures were taken of the pMDI nozzle before and after disinfection with an alcohol prep pad, as well as after treatments were administered. Growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis occurred in roughly 5% of the cultures with all three types of specimens, including those taken after the nozzle was disinfected with an alcohol prep pad. In another case, the hospital assessed the failure to wipe the canister nozzle with an alcohol prep pad before patient use; one of 18 cultures (5.6%) resulted in the growth of streptococci group D (enterococci) [15, 16]. A multidisciplinary team of physicians, infection control experts, and pharmacists need to discuss the safest reprocessing protocols if pMDI reutilization is to be considered. Some studies have demonstrated steps to disinfect the pMDIs that prevent transmission of virus as well as growth of bacteria [17, 18].

Using expired pMDIs

It is routinely prohibited to use expired medication; however, given the current circumstances and the significant shortage of pMDIs, this practice may serve as a last resort. Most inhalers are safe to use for up to 12 months after the expiry date, which can be found on the packaging and canister. However, their effectiveness is not guaranteed once the expiration date has passed. Proper storage is essential for ensuring the pMDI is effective; it should be stored away from direct sunlight, high temperatures, and changes in humidity. When an expired pMDI is used in response to an asthma attack, it may not work as well as it should. The active ingredients in medications will break down over time. If a patient uses an expired pMDI in an emergency, they should switch to a new one as soon as possible. Therefore, we must educate patients about proper medication storage and the efficacy and safety of these medications beyond their expiry date. The use of expired pMDIs should only be considered when there are no other options available. Pharmacists should assess the risk and the benefit associated with use of expired MDI on a case-by-case basis (Table 1).

Table 1 Strategies to conserve salbutamol pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) in hospitals and communities
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Take home messages

Drug shortages of life-saving inhalers continue to persist as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. Nebulization therapy, the standard of care for bronchodilation in respiratory patients, generates aerosols, which increases the risk of droplet contamination that can remain in the air and can facilitate the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since the use of pMDIs reduces the risk of aerosol-generating particles, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of pMDIs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to a decrease in the availability and a break in the supply chain of salbutamol pMDIs.

Hospitals should employ strategies to conserve supply and decrease waste throughout a patient’s hospital stay (Fig. 1). With regard to salbutamol pMDIs, such strategies include:

Fig. 1
figure 1

Flowchart to conserve use of salbutamol pMDIs in the hospital setting

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  • Having patients use their own pMDI

  • Reusing pMDIs after sterilization

  • Using nebulized salbutamol in COVID-19-negative patients

  • Counseling patients prior to discharge on the importance of using their maintenance inhalers daily and define the appropriate amount of medication to have on hand to prevent excessive usage of salbutamol pMDIs and stockpiling at community pharmacies

Amid COVID-19, pharmacists should collaborate with physicians to make decisions on the most optimal salbutamol dosage form for the patient—nebules, IV infusions, or pMDIs. Further research is needed to refine the reprocessing of used pMDIs to minimize contamination risks.