Antimicrobial agents used in tuberculosis treatment shortage
National Patient Safety Alert: The DHSC has published a National Patient Safety Alert on a shortage of antimicrobial agents used in tuberculosis (TB) treatment.
Published: 30 July 2025
The Department of Health and Social Care has published a National Patient Safety Alert on the Shortage of Antimicrobial Agents Used in Tuberculosis (TB) Treatment. The following antimicrobial medicines used to treat tuberculosis (TB) will be intermittently available until at least the end of 2025:
- 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.
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.
The National Patient Safety Alert provides further background, clinical information and actions for providers to be complete by 15 August 2025.