The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have announced and listed long-acting penicillin G benzathine injectable suspension products (Bicillin® L-A) on their respective drug shortage webpages, estimating a recovery timeframe in Q4 2023.

This is of considerable concern to California as the state continues to see significant increases in syphilis, including syphilis in pregnant persons and congenital syphilis in infants. CDPH recommends prioritizing Bicillin® L-A for pregnant people with syphilis infection or exposure, infants with congenital syphilis infection or exposure, and patients with contraindications to doxycycline. 

Health care providers can monitor the Bicillin® L-A drug shortages on the FDA Drug Shortages webpage.

The full alert is available at the following link:

Health Advisory: Bicillin® L-A (Benzathine Penicillin G) Shortage (ca.gov)

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