What it means
A thick, milky suspension that forms a store of penicillin in the muscle. It is the treatment for syphilis and is used for strep throat and to prevent rheumatic fever from coming back. Because it is a suspension, giving it into a vein by mistake can cause cardiac arrest and death.
For the nurse
Give it only deep IM, into a large muscle such as the ventrogluteal site, never IV. Ask about penicillin allergy first and watch the client for at least 15 to 30 minutes afterward for an allergic reaction.
At a glance
| Drug class | penicillin antibiotic (long-acting) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Bicillin L-A |
| Also written | benzathine penicillin G, benzathine penicillin, Bicillin L-A |
Related terms
intramuscular
Into a muscle; used for a drug given by injection into muscle tissue.
antibiotic
A drug that kills bacteria or stops them from growing.
anaphylaxis
A sudden, severe allergic reaction that affects the whole body.
sexually transmitted infection
An infection passed from one person to another mainly through sexual contact.