Ceftriaxone temporarily stopped in Kandy, Peradeniya hospitals

The use of Ceftriaxone in Kandy and Peradeniya hospitals has been temporarily stopped after

the drug which was given to the 21-year-old girl who died while being treated at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital due to a stomach ailment had caused allergic reactions in two patients at the Kandy National Hospital.

For the safety of the patients, it was decided to give the drug belonging to a different category for the use at the two hospitals until the Ceftriaxone variety issued for these two hospitals is sent for laboratory testing, Health Director General Dr.Asela Gunawardena said.

The Director General disclosed this during a press conference held on Saturday at the Kandy National Hospital. He said that the drug Ceftriaxone has been issued to the hospitals in the country under 10 categories and only Kandy and Peradeniya hospitals have reported that allergic reactions occurred after giving the drug.

The Director General also stated that no decision has been taken to remove the drug from other hospitals as there have been no reports of allergic reactions due to this medicine from other hospitals. He also emphasized that the two patients who developed allergies after being given the drug at the Kandy National Hospital have been given treatment and the effects of the allergy have been reduced and they have returned to normal.