MARION, NC – October 22, 2024 – One of the largest intravenous fluids suppliers in the U.S. has shut down because of damage from flooding due to Hurricane Helene. The Baxter International factory in Marion, NC, about 35 miles east of Asheville, is covered by mud that was left behind from the flood. A bridge to the factory was also damaged. The Baxter factory was making 60% of the total amount of intravenous fluids used in the U.S.
Intravenous fluids contain sterile water, sodium chloride, and carbohydrates. It is frequently used in hospitals including intensive care units, operating rooms and emergency rooms, surgery centers, nursing homes and dialysis centers for hydration and for the administration of drugs and nutrients.
There has been a great effort to increase the intravenous fluid supply. Baxter has already brought in 500 people to restore the factory to working order. They will quickly increase this number to one thousand in the next week. The federal government has invoked the Defense Production Act to assist Baxter to get the material that it needs to rebuild. FEMA is fixing the damaged bridge. The FDA has allowed the temporary importation of intravenous fluids. The Marion facility will resume some production this week. It is estimated that full capacity will be reached in a few months.
Other temporary solutions include postponing elective surgeries and asking health care providers to be judicious in intravenous fluid use. Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston has had to reduce its intravenous use by 50% for weeks. Dr Paul Biddinger, the chief preparedness and continuity officer at Massachusetts General Hospital, has described this as a crisis.
“This shortage is still touching nearly every hospital in the country,” says Dr. Chris DeRienzo, chief physician executive of the American Hospital Association.
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Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org