Letter Re: Sources for Lactated Ringer’s Solution?

Jim:
You recently mentioned Ciprofloxacin in your blog. Cipro is an antibacterial, a fluoroquinolone. It’s useful for urinary tract infections, bacterial (not viral) sinusitis, post-inhalation exposure to anthrax, traveler’s diarrhea, and in combination with other drugs for abdominal infections. Resistance to various sexually transmitted diseases and some bacteria that cause pneumonia (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) is increasing.

Ringer’s isn’t usually given with dextrose. It can be, but not normally. Ringers is an electrolyte (salt) solution, dextrose is used to replace (just) water or water and add some carbohydrates. Electrolyte solutions are used in cases of electrolyte depletion or dehydration (often combined with electrolyte depletion), normal saline is often given more or less interchangeably with Ringers (in fact, all I carry these days is normal saline).

And for trauma supplies (not drugs) a good source I’ve found is ChinookMed.com. Regards, – Flighter, M.D.