Drug
Benzathine penicillin G
A long-acting intramuscular penicillin preparation whose slow release maintains low serum penicillin levels for weeks, the standard agent for rheumatic fever prophylaxis.
Also called: penicillin G benzathine, BPG
- Class
- Long-acting benzathine salt of the beta-lactam antibiotic penicillin G
- Mechanism
- Slow release of penicillin G from the intramuscular depot inhibits bacterial cell-wall peptidoglycan synthesis and kills actively multiplying streptococci.
- Main uses
- Secondary prophylaxis of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease
- Treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis
- Syphilis and other treponemal infections
- Key side effects
- Pain and swelling at the injection site
- Allergic reactions, including urticaria and anaphylaxis
- Rare neurovascular injury when injected near a nerve or artery
- Key cautions
- Deep intramuscular injection only; intravenous injection has caused fatal cardiorespiratory arrest
- A history of penicillin hypersensitivity is a contraindication
- Sudden adverse events are rare but reported in patients with severe rheumatic heart disease
Educational use only. This card gives no doses.