Alberta Health Services is desperately short of sodium bicarbonate.

Quality and Chief Medical Officer for AHS, Dr. Francois Belanger says it's not just a shortage that's the problem.

"A shortage due to manufacturing issues by producer, Pfizer, was made more severe by a recall of some contaminated vials of sodium bicarbonate, due to microbial growth detected during testing. We're tracking use of the drug within our hospitals and will notify patients and their clinical team if there is a possibility that they've been infected."

Belanger says the drug is used for patients with critical issues.

"Patients that have a build-up of acid within their system. Mostly for patients that have a massive infection called "septic shock." Or patients that have renal failure for example and therefore acid builds in their body."

AHS is hoping to have new supplies sometime in July.

 

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