Syphilis go-to drug in short supply: Penicillin scarcity restricts access
Shortage of Penicillin G Benzathine Reported by FDA Due to High Demand
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a shortage of Penicillin G Benzathine, an injectable form of penicillin used to treat syphilis and other bacterial infections like strep throat. The FDA has also reported that liquid amoxicillin, another antibiotic used to treat strep, has been in short supply since October. The penicillin G benzathine is the preferred drug for syphilis, as it can be used in adults, children, and pregnant people. It is often administered in outpatient clinics or urgent care settings. Dosages for both children and adults are in short supply, according to the FDA.
Dr. Jeremy Cauwels, the chief physician at Sanford Health, has said that the penicillin G benzathine shortage has been a concern for pharmacists in his network since the winter. He added that the drug is vital as it can be given to pregnant mothers and can also treat the baby if the mother has syphilis. The shortage has come at a time when syphilis cases in the U.S. have reached a 70-year high in 2021, resulting in organ damage or death if left untreated.
Pfizer, the sole supplier of that form of penicillin in the U.S., has pointed to the amoxicillin shortage as the main issue because it prompted doctors to recommend penicillin instead. The rise in syphilis cases most likely further accelerated demand, the company said.
The amoxicillin shortage arose during a surge of respiratory virus infections over the fall and winter, when the antibiotic was prescribed for secondary bacterial infections resulting from Covid, flu or respiratory syncytial virus. It has also been used to treat a rise in severe strep cases dating to the fall. Strep throat case numbers remain elevated, with the CDC reporting a five-year high in emergency department visits for regular strep infections in February and March.
Pfizer said it has been delivering more of its injectable penicillin to the market than ever before but still can’t keep up with demand. The FDA said on its website that supply issues are expected to resolve sometime from October to December. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has reported an additional shortage of another form of penicillin, penicillin G procaine, which doesn't last as long in the body or cross the placental barrier.
The shortage of penicillin G benzathine has caused concern among healthcare professionals who rely on the medication to treat bacterial infections, particularly syphilis. Without access to this medication, patients with syphilis may not receive the treatment they need, which could result in serious health complications.
According to the FDA, the shortage is due to increased demand, with doctors recommending penicillin G benzathine as an alternative to amoxicillin for strep throat patients. This increase in demand has made it difficult for Pfizer to keep up with the demand, even though it has been delivering more injectable penicillin to the market than ever before.
The shortage of penicillin G benzathine is not the only medication facing supply issues in the U.S. Liquid amoxicillin has been in short supply since October, and the shortage is expected to continue until at least the end of the year. The rise in severe strep cases dating back to the fall has contributed to the amoxicillin shortage, as the medication is often prescribed to treat these infections.
In addition to the shortage of penicillin G benzathine and liquid amoxicillin, there is also a shortage of another form of penicillin, penicillin G procaine. While this form of penicillin is not as widely used as penicillin G benzathine, the shortage could still impact patients who rely on this medication.
Healthcare professionals and patients alike are calling for action to address the shortage of essential medications like penicillin G benzathine. The FDA has stated that supply issues are expected to resolve sometime between October and December, but until then, patients and healthcare providers will need to find alternative treatments or work to conserve the limited supply of available medications.