The merger represented the first non-distribution acquisition by Cardinal Health.

Cardinal Health, a drug wholesaler, agreed to buy Allegiance, which sells medical supplies, for $5.4 billion in stock and debt.

Cardinal Health, which provides drug delivery services for the health care industry, is continuing to shake up its executive tier.

He retired from Cardinal Health on June 20, 2009.

Cardinal Health, a national drug wholesaler, said that it had carried out special shipping procedures to help limit hoarding of the antibiotic.

Normally, hospitals purchase most of their drugs from large national wholesalers like Cardinal Health.

Kinray was bought out by Cardinal Health in 2010.

In 2010, Rahr sold Kinray to Cardinal Health for $1.3 billion.

Cardinal Health reported $151,000 in personal aircraft use last year for Robert D. Walter, its chairman and chief executive.

Cardinal Health, the big drug wholesaler, declined $5.66, or 10 percent, to $52.68.