From the Guidelines
Crystapen is a brand name for benzylpenicillin (also known as penicillin G), an antibiotic used to treat various bacterial infections, and its use is supported by guidelines for the treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis, as seen in the recommendations from the American Heart Association 1.
Key Points About Crystapen
- It is typically administered by injection, either intramuscularly or intravenously, and is not available in oral form because stomach acid would destroy it.
- Crystapen is effective against many gram-positive bacteria and some gram-negative bacteria, making it useful for treating conditions like pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, and severe skin infections.
- The typical adult dose ranges from 1.2 to 2.4 grams daily, divided into 4-6 doses, though this varies based on infection severity and type, with specific dosing recommendations provided for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis, such as 600,000 U for patients ≤27 kg and 1,200,000 U for patients >27 kg for benzathine penicillin G 1.
- Treatment duration typically ranges from 5-14 days depending on the condition being treated.
- Crystapen works by interfering with bacterial cell wall synthesis, causing the bacteria to rupture and die.
Important Considerations
- Some patients may be allergic to penicillin, and a thorough allergy history should be taken before administration, with alternative treatments available for those with penicillin allergy, such as narrow-spectrum cephalosporins or clindamycin 1.
- Kidney function should be monitored during treatment as the medication is primarily excreted through the kidneys.
- The choice of antibiotic should consider factors such as bacteriologic and clinical efficacy, ease of adherence, cost, spectrum of activity, and potential side effects, with benzathine penicillin G and oral penicillin V being recommended for the treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis, except in individuals with histories of penicillin allergy 1.
From the Research
Definition of Crystapen
- There is no direct information available in the provided studies to define what Crystapen is.
- The studies primarily focus on antibiotic treatments, resistance, and effectiveness against various bacterial infections, including those caused by Group A Streptococcus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Without specific details or context about Crystapen from the given evidence, it's challenging to provide a precise definition or description of what it might be.