In Brief: Alternatives to Bicillin L-A

In July 2025, Pfizer issued a voluntary recall of certain lots of long-acting intramuscular (IM) benzathine penicillin G (Bicillin L-A) due to particulates identified during visual inspection.1 The CDC issued a "Dear Colleague Letter" to alert healthcare providers about the recall and provide advice on how to manage the potentially limited supply of the drug for treatment of syphilis, which has been increasing in the US.2 Benzathine penicillin G is also used for treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis and prophylaxis of rheumatic fever.