Continuing Education Activity

This activity delves into the multifaceted clinical applications of benzathine penicillin, a potent antibiotic derived from the reaction between penicillin G molecules and diphenylethylene diamine. With broad-spectrum activity against gram-positive bacteria, benzathine penicillin emerges as a formidable agent, effectively combating diverse strains such as β-hemolytic streptococci (groups A, B, C, G, H, L, and M). Its exceptional efficacy against Treponema pallidum and T. carateum positions benzathine penicillin as a cornerstone in treating syphilis and yaws. Importantly, its unparalleled record is underscored by the absence of reported resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes, solidifying its status as a reliable therapeutic tool for specific infections.

This educational initiative offers an in-depth exploration of benzathine penicillin, providing healthcare professionals with comprehensive insights into its indications, dosing regimens, administration modalities, potential adverse effects, and specific contraindications. By unraveling the robust mechanism of action against various bacterial species, this CME activity aims to empower healthcare professionals with an enhanced understanding of the clinical utility of benzathine penicillin. The goal is to foster informed decision-making and optimize therapeutic strategies, ensuring the effective management of bacterial infections susceptible to this antibiotic. Participants will gain valuable knowledge to navigate the nuances of benzathine penicillin therapy, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Objectives:

• Identify the diverse bacterial infections that can be effectively treated with benzathine penicillin, including acute glomerulonephritis, respiratory tract infections, rheumatic fever and chorea, rheumatic heart disease, syphilis, and other venereal diseases, based on FDA-labeled indications.

• Screen patients for relevant conditions that align with the FDA-approved indications for benzathine penicillin, ensuring its appropriate use in managing infections while considering potential contraindications and patient-specific factors.

• Assess patient responses and monitor treatment outcomes post-administration of benzathine penicillin to ensure efficacy, manage adverse events, and re-evaluate therapy when necessary to achieve optimal therapeutic results.

• Improve communication with patients, providing comprehensive information on the purpose, benefits, and potential risks associated with benzathine penicillin therapy, promoting patient engagement and informed decision-making.

Indications

Benzathine penicillin is formulated from 2 penicillin G molecules reacting with diphenylethylene diamine. The drug is active against Gram-positive bacteria, including beta-hemolytic streptococci (groups A, B, C, G, H, L, and M), Treponema pallidum, and T. carateum. There has been no reported resistance to benzathine penicillin in Streptococcus pyogenes.[1][2][3][4][5]

FDA-Approved Indications

1. Acute glomerulonephritis
2. Respiratory tract infections
3. Rheumatic fever and chorea
4. Rheumatic heart disease
5. Syphilis and another venereal disease

Specific indications for adult and pediatric populations are as follows:

Adult

1. Upper respiratory infection, group A streptococci

• Secondary prevention of glomerulonephritis
• Secondary prevention of rheumatic fever

2. Pharyngitis, group A streptococci (Infectious Diseases Society of America [IDSA] guidelines)

• Acute and chronic carrier treatment

3. Syphilis (CDC)

• Primary, secondary, and early latent (less than 1-year duration)
• Late latent, latent with unknown duration, or tertiary syphilis (with normal cerebrospinal fluid examination)
• Neurosyphilis, including ocular syphilis (not indicated for use) [6]

4. Yaws, bejel, and pinta (dermal infections caused by Treponema pallidum and T. carateum)

Pediatric

1. Upper respiratory infection, group A streptococci (eg, pharyngitis)

2. Primary prevention of rheumatic fever

3. Secondary prevention of rheumatic fever [7]

4. Pharyngitis/tonsillitis, group A streptococci (IDSA)

• Acute and chronic carrier state

Off-Label Uses

Syphilis (CDC)

• Primary, secondary, and early latent (less than 1-year duration)
• Late latent

Mechanism of Action

Benzathine penicillin (benzylpenicillin or penicillin G) is a beta-lactam antimicrobial used to treat infections caused by gram-positive cocci, particularly streptococcal infections. Beta-lactams are bactericidal antimicrobials. These antimicrobials inhibit the biosynthesis of the cell wall peptidoglycan during the stage of active multiplication by inhibiting bacterial peptidoglycan transpeptidase. This results in an osmotically unstable cell wall, leading to cell wall lysis and subsequent destruction of the bacterial cell, leading to bacterial cellular death.

Mechanism of Resistance

Benzathine penicillin does not have antimicrobial activity against penicillinase-producing bacteria or organisms resistant to beta-lactams because of penicillin-binding protein alterations.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Benzathine penicillin is rapidly absorbed following intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, leading to high initial blood levels, although these are transient. Oral absorption is poor as the drug is susceptible to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis.

Distribution

Benzathine penicillin exhibits a volume of distribution of 0.53 to 0.567. It is 45% to 68% protein-bound, primarily to albumin.

Metabolism

Benzathine penicillin is metabolized to 6-aminopenicillanic acid and penicilloic acid. Small amounts of the drug seem to undergo hydroxylation to active metabolites excreted in the urine.

Excretion

Benzathine penicillin is renally eliminated. Non-renal clearance occurs via hepatic metabolism (including CYP450 enzymes) and biliary excretion to a lesser extent.

Administration

Dosage Forms

Benzathine penicillin is available as an injectable suspension that is administered intramuscularly. The medication should be warmed to room temperature before administration to lessen the pain associated with the injection, and it should not be given near an artery or nerve. In adults, the injection is administered to the upper outer quadrant of the buttocks. In children younger than 2, the injection should be administered to the mid-lateral muscle of the thigh. The injection site should be rotated on repeat doses.

Benzathine penicillin is opaque and viscous with very low solubility. Therefore, the antimicrobial is slowly released from the injection site and hydrolyzed to penicillin G. Due to the slow absorption and the hydrolysis, the drug concentration in the blood remains lower for a prolonged period. After a 1.2 million unit injection, adults have detectable drug concentrations for 14 days or longer.

The antimicrobial typically is manufactured in 600,000 units/mL, 1.2 million units/2 mL, or 2.4 million units/4 mL syringes. The antimicrobial should be stored in a refrigerator from 36 °F to 46 °F (2 °C to 8 °C) and never frozen. Dosing recommendations are as follows:

Adult Dosing

• Pharyngitis/tonsillitis, group A streptococci (1.2 million units, intramuscularly [IM] x 1)
• Upper respiratory infection, group A streptococci that are mild to moderate and are susceptible to low, prolonged concentrations of benzathine penicillin (1.2 million units, IM x 1)
• Secondary prevention of glomerulonephritis, prophylaxis for patients with a history of acute glomerulonephritis (1.2 million units IM every 4 weeks or 600,000 units IM twice monthly)
• Secondary prevention (prophylaxis) of rheumatic fever (1.2 million units IM every 3 to 4 weeks or 600,000 units IM twice monthly)
• Syphilis: Primary, secondary, or latent less than 1 year (2.4 million units IM x 1, may repeat dose x 1 after 1 week in pregnant patients); latent greater than 1 year (2.4 million units IM weekly for 3 weeks) [8]
• Yaws, bejel, and pinta (1.2 million units IM x 1)

Special Patient Populations

Hepatic impairment

Dose adjustments for patients with hepatic impairment are undefined.

Renal impairment

Dose adjustments in patients with renal impairment are as follows:

• Creatinine clearance 10 to 50 mL/min: decrease dose by 25%
• Creatinine clearance less than 10 mL/min: decrease dose by 50% to 80%
• Hemodialysis: give dose after dialysis
• Peritoneal dialysis: decreased dose by 50% to 80%

Pregnant women

Benzathine penicillin is pregnancy category B. Reproduction studies performed in mice, rats, and rabbits have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus. Human experience with penicillin during pregnancy has not been shown to have any adverse effects on the fetus. However, studies with pregnant women are inadequate or not well-controlled and cannot conclusively report the harmful effects of penicillin medications on the fetus.

Breastfeeding women

Soluble penicillin G is excreted in breast milk. Clinicians should exercise caution in this patient population.[9]

Pediatric patients

Pediatric Dosing

• Pharyngitis/tonsillitis, group A streptococci:
  • Acute treatment:
    • <27 kg = 600,000 units IM x 1
    • >27 kg = 1.2 million units IM x 1
  • Chronic carrier treatment:
    • <27 kg = 600,000 units IM x 1, in combination with oral rifampin
    • >27 kg = 1.2 million units IM x 1, in combination with oral rifampin
• Upper respiratory infection, group A streptococci:
  • <27 kg = 300,000 – 600,000 units IM x 1
  • >27 kg = 900,000 units IM x 1
• Secondary prevention of rheumatic fever
  • <27 kg = 600,000 units IM every 3 to 4 weeks
  • >27 kg = 1.2 million units IM every 3 to 4 weeks
• Syphilis
  • Acquired
    • Primary or secondary, or latent, <1-year duration: 50,000 units/kg/dose IM X 1; maximum 2.4 million units/dose.
    • Latent of >1-year duration: 50,000 units/kg/dose IM weekly for 3 weeks; maximum 2.4 million units/dose.
  • Congenital: 
    • Neonates: 50,000 units/kg/dose IM X 1; maximum 2.4 million units/dose.
    • Infants/children: 50,000 units/kg/dose IM weekly for 3 weeks; maximum 2.4 million units/dose.

Older patients

Clinical studies have not included sufficient numbers of patients older than 65 to determine whether they respond differently than younger patients. Reported clinical experience has not identified any differences delineating older and younger patients. Generally, dosing in older patients should be at the lower end of any dose range due to the increased potential for hepatic or renal impairment.

Adverse Effects

Patients generally tolerate benzathine penicillin well, with pain from the injection being the most common concern. Hypersensitivity reactions are another possible adverse event. Patients with a previous history of hypersensitivity to penicillin or those with a history of asthma, hay fever, allergies, or urticaria are at higher risk of hypersensitivity reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions can be severe or fatal and include the type I IgE-mediated reaction, also known as anaphylaxis. This type I hypersensitivity reaction typically includes urticarial skin rash, itching, wheezing, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and can progress to hemodynamic instability and death. Any previous anaphylactic reaction or severe skin reaction (eg, Steven-Johnson or toxic epidermal necrosis) to any penicillin is a contraindication for use. There have been previous reports that patients with anaphylactic or severe skin reactions from cephalosporins or carbapenems will have a type of cross-reactivity reaction that will also have serious adverse events when administered any penicillin medication. These reports are believed to be much lower than previously suspected. 

Other rare, potentially serious adverse events include C. difficile-associated diarrhea, hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, nephrotoxicity, and neuropathy. Other less severe adverse reactions include mild rash/urticaria, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and elevated BUN or creatinine.

Superinfections can result from prolonged use. A superinfection can occur up to 2 months of post-antimicrobial treatment. These potentially fatal infections include C. difficile-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis.[10][11][12]

Drug-Drug Interactions

As a bacteriostatic antibiotic, tetracycline may antagonize the bacteriocidal effect of penicillin; concurrent use should be avoided. Concurrent use of probenecid with penicillin can increase penicillin levels by slowing the drug's excretion rate via competitive inhibition of the renal tubular mechanism.

Contraindications

Benzathine penicillin is contraindicated in patients with previous anaphylactic or severe skin reactions to penicillin (eg, Steven-Johnson or toxic epidermal necrosis). There have been reports of patients with anaphylactic or severe skin reactions from cephalosporins or carbapenems having a type of cross-reactivity reaction that also results in serious adverse events when they are administered any penicillin antimicrobial, including benzathine penicillin, but these reports are believed to be much less prevalent than previously suspected.

Box Warning

Benzathine penicillin should never be injected intravenously or admixed with other intravenous medications. Reports exist of inadvertent IV administration of benzathine penicillin associated with cardiorespiratory arrest and death.[13]

Precautions

Clinicians should use this drug with caution in patients with a seizure disorder, especially in patients with renal impairment, due to a potential increase in the risk of seizures.

Monitoring

Creatinine levels at baseline are recommended. Observe for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. Prescribers and other healthcare team members must also monitor for a lack of therapeutic response, which could be a sign of superinfection.[14]

Toxicity

Since a healthcare practitioner administers the medication by injection, overdoses are rare. An overdose has the potential to cause neuromuscular irritability or convulsive seizures.

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Benzathine penicillin is often administered by various interprofessional healthcare team members, including physicians, internists, infectious disease experts, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants. While the drug is relatively safe, observing the patient for an allergic reaction is crucial. Empirical use of this drug can lead to superinfections. Nursing staff should counsel the patient on how to take the medication and answer any questions they may have regarding their antimicrobial therapy. The pharmacist can reiterate administration points and advise the patient to take the entire course of medication and not stop taking the drug if they begin to feel better. Additionally, patients should inform the nurse or prescribing clinician of any adverse events or signs of therapeutic failure or significant adverse effects. In this way, all interprofessional team members can play a role in successful therapeutic patient outcomes with minimal adverse events.