In many countries across the world, there are shortages of common antibiotics. The problems have been reported across many countries in Europe, in the US, Canada, and Australia. Though the shortages have been more widely reported in more economically developed countries, the reality is that supply is likely limited globally. This poses significant issues for healthcare systems in those countries, as those in the Northern Hemisphere are dealing with infectious diseases that commonly occur in winter. At a time when COVID-19 is still putting a strain on health services, the more severe cases of infectious diseases that could arrive with antibiotic rationing would be an unwelcome addition.
