Pfizerpen
PENICILLIN G POTASSIUM
Indications and usage INDICATIONS AND USAGE Therapy Penicillin G Potassium for Injection is indicated in the treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the conditions listed below.
Appropriate culture and susceptibility tests should be done before treatment in order to isolate and identify organisms causing infection and to determine their susceptibility to penicillin G.
Structured Monograph
Clinical summary
Indications and usage INDICATIONS AND USAGE Therapy Penicillin G Potassium for Injection is indicated in the treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the conditions listed below. Appropriate culture and susceptibility tests should be done before treatment in order to isolate and identify organisms causing infection and to determine their susceptibility to penicillin G. Therapy with Penicillin G Potassium for Injection may be initiated before results of such tests are known when there is reason to believe the infection may involve any of the organisms listed below; however, once these results become available, appropriate therapy should be continued. CLINICAL INDICATION INFECTING ORGANISM Septicemia, empyema, pneumonia, pericarditis, endocarditis, meningitis Streptococcus pyogenes (group A β-hemolytic streptococcus), other β-hemolytic streptococci including groups C, H, G, L and M, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus species (non-penicillinase producing strains) Anthrax Bacillus anthracis Actinomycosis (cervico-facial disease and thoracic and abdominal disease) Actinomyces israelii Botulism (adjunctive therapy to antitoxin), gas gangrene, and tetanus (adjunctive therapy to human tetanus immune globulin) Clostridium species Diphtheria (adjunctive therapy to antitoxin and prevention of the carrier state) Corynebacterium diphtheriae Erysipelothrix endocarditis Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Fusospirochetosis (severe infections of the oropharynx [Vincent's], lower respiratory tract and genital area) Fusobacterium species and spirochetes Listeria infections including meningitis and endocarditis Listeria monocytogenes Pasteurella infections including bacteremia and meningitis Pasteurella multocida Haverhill fever Streptobacillus moniliformis Rat bite fever Spirillum minus or Streptobacillus moniliformis Disseminated gonococcal infections Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Penicillin-susceptible) Syphilis (congenital and neurosyphilis) Treponema pallidum Meningococcal meningitis and/or septicemia Neisseria meningitidis Gram-negative bacillary infections (bacteremias) Penicillin G is not the drug of choice in the treatment of Gram-negative bacillary infections. Gram-negative bacillary organisms ( i.e . Enterobacteriaceae) To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain effectiveness of Penicillin G Potassium and other antibacterial drugs, Penicillin G Potassium should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy. Dosage and administration DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Buffered Penicillin G Potassium for Injection, USP may be given intravenously or intramuscularly. The usual dose recommendations are as follows: Adult patients CLINICAL INDICATION DOSAGE Serious infections due to susceptible strains of streptococci (including S. pneumoniae ) 12 to 24 million units/day depending on the infection and its severity administered in equally divided doses every 4–6 hours. -septicemia, empyema, pneumonia, pericarditis, endocarditis and meningitis Serious infections due to susceptible strains of staphylococci 5 to 24 million units/day depending on the infection and its severity administered in equally divided doses every 4–6 hours. -septicemia, empyema, pneumonia, pericarditis, endocarditis and meningitis Anthrax Minimum of 8 million units/day in divided doses every 6 hours. Higher doses may be required depending on susceptibility of organism. Actinomycosis Cervicofacial disease 1 to 6 million units/day( Because of its short half-life, Penicillin G is administered in divided doses, usually every 4–6 hours with the exception of meningococcal meningitis/septicemia, i.e ., every 2 hours. ) Thoracic and abdominal disease 10 to 20 million units/day( ) Clostridial infections Botulism (adjunctive therapy to antitoxin) 20 million units/day( ) Gas gangrene (debridement and/or surgery as indicated) Tetanus (adjunctive therapy to human tetanus immune globulin) Diphtheria (adjunctive therapy to antitoxin and for the prevention of the carrier state) 2 to 3 million units/day in divided doses for 10–12 days( ) Erysipelothrix endocarditis 12 to 20 million units/day for 4–6 weeks( ) Fusospirochetosis (severe infections of the oropharynx [Vincent's], lower respiratory tract and genital area) 5 to 10 million units/day( ) Listeria infections Meningitis 15 to 20 million units/day for 2 weeks( ) Endocarditis 15 to 20 million units/day for 4 weeks( ) Pasteurella infections including bacteremia and meningitis 4 to 6 million units/day for 2 weeks( ) Haverhill fever; Rat-bite fever 12 to 20 million units/day for 3–4 weeks( ) Disseminated gonococcal infections
Monitoring
- • WARNINGS Anaphylaxis Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in patients on penicillin therapy.
- • These reactions are more likely to occur in individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity and/or a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens.
- • There have been reports of individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity who have experienced severe reactions when treated with cephalosporins.
- • Before initiating therapy with penicillin G, careful inquiry should be made concerning previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins, or other allergens.
Interaction Notes
- • Drug Interactions Bacteriostatic antibacterials ( i.e ., chloramphenicol, erythromycins, sulfonamides or tetracyclines) may antagonize the bactericidal effect of penicillin, and concurrent use of these drugs should be avoided.
- • This has been documented in vitro ; however, the clinical significance of this interaction is not well-documented.
- • Penicillin blood levels may be prolonged by concurrent administration of probenecid which blocks the renal tubular secretion of penicillins.
- • Other drugs may compete with penicillin G for renal tubular secretion and thus prolong the serum half-life of penicillin.