A National Patient Safety Alert (NatPSA-2025-004-MVA) was issued on 29 Jul 2025 relating to the shortage of antimicrobial agents used in Tuberculosis. The alert provides clinical guidance and outlines mandatory actions that must be implemented to ensure patient safety during the disruption period. All actions are to be completed by 15 August 2025 and to remain in place only until the supply issues have been resolved (see Medicine Supply Tool for up-to-date resolution dates).
Key Information:
- Antimicrobial medicines used to treat tuberculosis (TB) will be intermittently available until at least the end of 2025. This includes
- Rifampicin 150mg and 300mg capsules
- Rifampicin 600mg IV solution for infusion
- Rifampicin 100mg/5ml oral suspension
- Rifinah® 300 tablets (rifampicin 300mg / isoniazid 150mg)
- Rifater® tablets (rifampicin 120mg / isoniazid 50mg/ pyrazinamide 300mg)
- Voractiv® tablets (rifampicin 150mg/ isoniazid 75mg / pyrazinamide 400mg / ethambutol 275mg)
- Pyrazinamide 500mg tablets
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Ethambutol tablets, Isoniazid tablets, and Rifinah® 150 tablets (rifampicin 150 mg / isoniazid 100 mg) and Mycobutin® (rifabutin) 150mg capsules remain available but cannot support a full increase in demand.
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Primary care clinicians should not prescribe rifampicin until the shortage is resolved.
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Primary care prescribers are reminded:
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Antimicrobials for the treatment of TB are hospital-only medicines (Red List) and should only be prescribed by the specialist team responsible for supervising the patient’s TB treatment.
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Any prescribing of rifampicin for indications other than TB is considered specialist initiation.
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For further information, refer to the North West London Antimicrobial Prescribing Guidelines for Primary Care and the North West London Formulary.
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Actions for all Prescribers - deadline 15th August 2025:
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Please refer to National Patient Safety Alert (NatPSA-2025-004-MVA); review the outlined actions and ensure appropriate implementation.
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Identify patients prescribed antimicrobial TB treatments and use of rifampicin for any potential non-TB indications.
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Seek specialist advice where necessary for alternative options in management of indications other than TB or non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease.