How have you adjusted your practice for treatment of syphilis in light of the penicillin G benzathine shortage?

3 Answers

Mednet Member

Infectious Disease · Brown University

Theoretically, there should be an ample supply of penicillin G benzathine. Per the CDC: "June 10, 2024: Pfizer noted that they currently have an available supply of 2.4 million Units/4 milliliter Bicillin."

https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/drug-notices.htm

If by chance for whatever reason there is ...

Mednet Member

Infectious Disease · University of Washington Center for AIDS and STD

The benzathine penicillin G shortage reportedly is abating: https://www.cdc.gov/sti/php/from-the-director/2023-07-20-mena-bicillin.html

To the extent that BPG remains in short supply, doxycycline is highly reliable in a dose of 100 mg PO bid for 14 days (for primary, secondary and early latent syphil...

Mednet Member

Infectious Disease · Emory University School of Medicine

I agree with everything above, and would only add that the benzathine penicillin G supply is not distributed evenly. Of two hospitals in the same city, one may have a much larger benzathine penicillin G stockpile than the other. If you practice in multiple settings, it may not be safe to assume the ...