Review
Benzathine Penicillin G for the Management of RHD: Concerns About Quality and Access, and Opportunities for Intervention and Improvement
Authors:
Rosemary Wyber ,
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth, Western Australia, AU
Kathryn Taubert,
World Heart Federation, Geneva, CH
Stephen Marko,
University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, US
Edward L. Kaplan
University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, US
Abstract
Benzathine penicillin G is an important antibiotic for the treatment and prevention of group A streptococcal infections associated with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. However, as rheumatic heart disease has receded as a public health priority in most high-income settings, attention to the supply, manufacture, and accessibility of benzathine penicillin G has declined. Concerns about the quality, efficacy, and innovation of the drug have emerged following plasma analysis and anecdotal reports from low-resource settings. This review collates core issues in supply and delivery of benzathine penicillin G as a foundation for concerted efforts to improve global quality and access. Opportunities for intervention and improvement are explored.
How to Cite:
Wyber R, Taubert K, Marko S, Kaplan EL. Benzathine Penicillin G for the Management of RHD: Concerns About Quality and Access, and Opportunities for Intervention and Improvement. Global Heart. 2013;8(3):227–34. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.gheart.2013.08.011
Published on
01 Sep 2013.
Peer Reviewed
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