Strep A: Antibiotic deliveries to Northern Ireland being sped up

Liquid antibiotics are being prescribed to children with worsening symptoms of strep A

Deliveries of antibiotics for the treatment of group A streptococcus infection are being sped up to reach wholesalers and pharmacies across Northern Ireland in the coming days.

The Department of Health said supplies are available from manufacturers but the issue is distribution.

There has been a surge in demand for antibiotic supplies for treating strep A and other bacterial infections.

There are reports of low supplies in some locations.

GPs and pharmacists across Northern Ireland have voiced concern about supplies.

Last week, Community Pharmacy NI said that its issue was over funding and being unable to afford to purchase supplies of antibiotics in advance.

As of Thursday, 15 UK children had died after invasive strep A infections since September.

In a statement to BBC News NI, a Department of Health spokesperson said supplies are "readily available in manufacturers".

The spokesperson added: "At present, deliveries into wholesalers and pharmacies are being expedited and are expected in the coming days".

The statement added that it is hoped this should help "alleviate pressures".

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This will take several days though to filter through.

Meanwhile, local pharmacy teams are working together to assess the availability of antibiotics required to treat strep A locally and to order appropriately to avoid putting more pressure on the supply chain.

One mother, Anne Harper who lives near Newry, said she required antibiotics for her 11-year-old daughter.

Speaking to BBC News NI, she said they found it difficult to get a prescription after being seen by the out-of-hours GP early on Sunday morning.

"Two of the main out-of-hours pharmacies in Newry, who we tried, said that they had run out of the first-line antibiotic (both the suspension & pills)," she said.

"We then had to return to the out-of-hours GP to ask for a different prescription. The staff at Daisyhill and at the out-of-hours call centre couldn't have been better or done more for us."

The family was able to get a second prescription for a different antibiotic in the end, but they said it was concerning as they had contacted a number of centres.

Mrs Harper suggested more pharmacies could open on a Sunday and coordinate efforts to help families.

What is Strep A?

Most strep A infections are mild - a sore throat or a skin infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics.

But some people who catch it can get very sick.

Some people develop scarlet fever, which causes a skin rash (that feels like sandpaper) and flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature.

Figures show there were at least 104 cases of scarlet fever in Northern Ireland in November, up from 43 in October.

Very rarely, strep A can cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS, which can be deadly.

Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body's immune defences.

The government said that during a similar period in 2017-18 - the last high season for iGAS infection - there were four deaths in England.

But the number of cases of iGAS - the most serious form of infection - is 33 so far in 2022, compared to 55 in 2018 and 72 in 2019, before the pandemic.

The Public Health Agency said there was no indication Northern Ireland was seeing more deaths from iGAS than in previous years.

What should parents do?

As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact your GP if:

• your child is getting worse

• your child is feeding or eating much less than normal

• your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration

• your baby is under three months old and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than three months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher

• your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty

• your child is very tired or irritable

Call 999 or go to the ED if:

• your child is having difficulty breathing - you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs

• there are pauses when your child breathes

• your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue

• your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake