J. David Bullock, MD, discusses amoxicillin shortage
Strep throat cases are on the rise amid a nationwide shortage of amoxicillin, a common antibiotic drug that is used to treat it. J. David Bullock, MD, a family medicine physician at Hattiesburg Clinic Sumrall Medical Center, recently spoke with WDAM about the shortage and its impact on the Pine Belt.
“In this area we’ve been able to work around it either with different pharmacies or maybe different medications that still cover strep throat but not necessarily amoxicillin, if the patient is able to tolerate that particular medication,” Bullock said.
According to Bullock, there has been a slight uptick in strep throat cases. And while the cause of the shortage is unclear, the physicians in our area have been able to manage cases with this workaround. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rise in strep cases comes after a two year low in 2020 and 2021. As flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases rose in 2022, strep cases also grew.
Here are a few tips to protect yourself and others from strep*:
- Wash your hands often to help prevent germs from spreading. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating. Remember to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
- Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands, if you don’t have a tissue.
- Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
- You should also wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use once washed.
Follow the link to watch the full interview: https://bit.ly/3GShrxP
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
