Zinc Deficiency With Dermatitis in a Parenteral Nutrition–Dependent Patient Due to National Shortage of Trace Minerals

Abstract

The shortages of intravenous drugs remains critical, with sterile injectables accounting for 80% of the approximately 300 shortages. The impact is being felt in patients dependent on parenteral nutrition (PN), and severe deficiencies are becoming more commonplace. We report here a man who developed severe zinc deficiency, manifesting as a painful desquamative rash, due to an inability to obtain multi–trace element additives for his PN.

Keywords

home nutrition support nutrition long-term care minerals/trace elements nutrition assessment,parenteral nutrition

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