(Radio Iowa) – Healthcare facilities and pharmacies are continuing to see shortages of antibiotic medications as hospitals are reporting high levels of kids getting sick with viral infections like the flu and R-S-V. The executive director of pharmacy for UnityPoint Des Moines, Brian Benson, says they’re being careful to make sure they’re saving medications like amoxicillin for bacterial infections — because it doesn’t work on viruses.

“We’re not trying to not get drugs or not treat patients. It’s really, we’re making the best decisions we can based on you know, the, the bug, if you will, that’s causing the infection and we’re really trying to make sure that we, we have things on hand for patients that really need it,” he says. He says they’re able to get by on the supply they have, and patients can help by understanding how things are treated.

“If it’s, you know, suspected to be viral, you’re not going to get an amoxicillin to treat the viral infection. So maybe, you know, maybe not demanding an antibiotic,” Benson says. Benson says parents can prevent the spread of all infections by keeping their kids home when sick.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)