Notice to Readers: Update: Penicillin G Availability
In October 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC announced a shortage of penicillin G (potassium and sodium) for intravenous injection as a result of decreased production by a major manufacturer (1). In response to the shortage, FDA has identified a temporary alternate supplier of penicillin G sodium, Biochemie GmbH, Kundl, Austria, The company has supplied penicillin G to the United States since December 9, 1999. This product is distributed by Geneva Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Broomfield, Colorado), and should be available through wholesale suppliers.
Because quantities are limited, Geneva Pharmaceuticals is operating under a drug shortage allocation program. For emergency allocations, contact Jenny Whitehouse, Customer Support Supervisor, Geneva Pharmaceuticals, telephone (303) 438-4399; fax (303) 727-4656; e-mail: jenny.whitehouse@gx.novartis.com). Another source of penicillin G potassium in frozen bags is Baxter Corporation (Deerfield, Illinois) at http://www.baxter.com*. If penicillin cannot be obtained, alternative treatment recommendations for some infections can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/penicillinG.htm.
CDC requests case reports from physicians about patients with neurosyphilis or congenital syphilis who have been treated with an alternative regimen from September 1, 1999, to February 15, 2000. To report such persons, a form may be downloaded from http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/PenGForm.htm, completed, and mailed to CDC's National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Corporate Square Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30329, or may be requested by telephone, (404) 639-8191.
Reference
CDC. Shortage of intravenous penicillin G--United States. MMWR 1999;48:974.
* References to sites of non-CDC organizations on the Internet are provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Department of Health
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