Availability of Streptomycin
and Para-Aminosalicylic Acid -- United States
Since the fall of 1991, streptomycin (SM) and
para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) (antimicrobial agents used to treat
tuberculosis (TB)) have been unavailable in the United States.
Beginning April 13, 1992, for an interim period, a limited
supply of these drugs manufactured outside the United States will
be available through CDC under an investigational new drug
agreement. These drugs will initially be made available only for
patients with active TB that is resistant to both isoniazid (INH)
and rifampin (RIF) or, if susceptibility testing results are not
yet available, for patients with active TB in outbreaks where the
predominant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are known to be
resistant to INH and RIF.
The Food and Drug Administration has identified U.S. companies
that have agreed to manufacture SM and PAS. These drugs are
expected to be commercially available later this year.
Clinicians interested in obtaining SM or PAS for their
patients should be able to provide an abbreviated medical history
and for SM, a recent creatinine serum level measurement. Requests
should be directed to CDC's Clinical Research Branch, Division of
Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for Prevention Services,
telephone (404) 639-2530.
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