Role of benzathine penicillin G in prophylaxis for recurrent streptococcal cellulitis of the lower legs.

Low-dose penicillin for recurrent cellulitis?

The incidence of cellulitis is 24.6 in 1000 person-years, according to a US population-based study of insurance claims for the years 1997 to 2002—the most recent data available. The lower extremities are most commonly affected, accounting for 70% to 80% of cases. Risk factors associated with recurrence include venous insufficiency, lymphedema, overweight, skin breakdown, and leg edema, which ar...

Group G Streptococcus bacteremia in recurrent cellulitis.

In recent years, group G Streptococcus has been reported with increasing frequency as the cause of a variety of human infections. Underlying host factors such as immunosuppression, malignancy, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis may be predisposing conditions leading to infection. Toxic involvement and post-streptococcal sequalae, once believed to be exclusive to infections caused by gr...

Factors associated with loss of penicillin G concentrations in serum after intramuscular benzathine penicillin G injection: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND An interval of 3-4 weeks between intramuscular injections of 1.2 million units of benzathine penicillin G as prophylaxis against group A streptococcal infection is recommended by health organizations for patients with pediatric rheumatic fever and heart disease. METHODS We reviewed the literature for evidence of the persistence of serum penicillin G during the first 4 weeks after t...

The Efficacy of Intramuscular Benzathine Penicillin for Preventing Recurrent Cellulitis: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

SERUM PENICILLIN LEVEL A FTER INTRAMUSCULA R INJECTION OF 1,200,000 UNITS OF BENZATHINE PENICILLIN G IN CHILDREN WITH RHEUMATIC FEVER

The most accepted method of secondary prophylaxis in rheumatic fever (RF) has been an injection of 1,200,000 units of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) every 4 weeks, but recurrences have been reported in some patients despite such a prophylaxis program. The WHO recommended BPG injections every 3 weeks in high risk patients and situations due to some published data in favor of inadequacy of on...