Helene damaged a factory that makes IV fluids

The fallout from storm damage to a North Carolina factory that makes critical hospital supplies will be felt broadly and could linger, experts say.Flooding triggered by Hurricane Helene hit a Baxter International plant in North Cove, North Carolina, that makes much of the country’s supply of sterile intravenous, or IV, fluids.It also makes fluids used by some patients on home kidney dialysis.Here’s a closer look at the impact.Baxter had to close the factory, which it says is its largest manufacturing facility, employing more than 2,500 people.The company also started limiting how much supply customers can order, a restriction designed to prevent stockpiling and keep access equal.Dr.

Paul Biddinger of Mass General Brigham said this week that Baxter told the Massachusetts health system it will get about 40% of the supply it normally receives.Yes.Hospitals may start making small changes for now to stretch supplies of IV fluids, which are used to keep patients hydrated and also to deliver medicine.Mass General Brigham, which includes 12 hospitals, is giving some patients water or Gatorade instead of starting an IV, Biddinger said.He added that anyone who needs an IV can still get one, and the system’s clinical services are operating normally.Hospitals may reschedule elective surgeries to conserve IV fluids, said Mike Ganio, who studies drug shortages at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

He added that they also may have nurses inject some medicines like antibiotics into patients with a syringe instead of using an IV.Bigger changes may happen for people who need dialysis solutions made at the plant.For those patients, Baxter is recommending that care providers review prescriptions to determine whether they can get by with less.

The company also says delays to the start of dialysis should be considered.The U.S.Food and Drug Administration, as of Friday, has not declared any new shortages tied to products made at Baxter’s plant.But experts see v...