Wisconsin Health Alert #65: Bicillin® L-A (Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable Suspension) Recall
Bureau of Communicable Diseases
July 17, 2025
Key Points
- Pfizer has instituted a voluntary recall of specific lots of Bicillin® L-A (Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable Suspension).
- Pfizer attributes this recall to a quality control issue and notes that no adverse events have been reported to date.
- At this time no shortages of Bicillin® L-A (Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable Suspension) are in effect. However, Pfizer is evaluating inventory to determine if there may be possible shortages in the future.
- Medical providers who have administered doses of the recalled medications are encouraged to notify patients who received the medication about the recall and ask them to report any adverse events. There is no need to re-administer the medication.
Background
On July 10, 2025, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals sent the following letter to key individuals and organizations regarding a recall of Bicillin® L-A (Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable Suspension).
Because this recall effects very specific lots, organizations responsible for maintaining Bicillin® L-A (Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable Suspension) should immediately determine if they currently have any of the medication in the lots on hand. If so, the organization should contact Sedgewick (Pfizer) as instructed for reimbursement and new medication.
The State of Wisconsin Department of Health (DHS), Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Unit is currently monitoring the impact of this recall on access to effective treatment for syphilis. At this time no shortage of Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable Suspension (PCN) has been identified in Wisconsin.
Recall of Bicillin® L-A (Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable Suspension)
Pfizer has recalled a specific number of lots of Bicillin® L-A, Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable Suspension (PCN). Organizations that use PCN for the treatment of syphilis should immediately determine if the medication they have on hand is a part of the recalled lots. The lot numbers as well as other information about the recall can be found in the letter from Pfizer.
If you have determined that you have one of the lots of Bicillin® L-A (PCN) mentioned in the letter, please contact Craig Berger, syphilis surveillance coordinator, at 608-266-1323 or craig.berger@dhs.wisconsin.gov. This information will allow the STI Unit to monitor the PCN inventory in Wisconsin and help determine other available sources of medication. If you do not have medication in the recalled lots, please continue to use PNC per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Treatment Guidelines.
Treatment regimens for syphilis are outlined in the 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines.
Medical providers who administered doses of the recalled medication are encouraged to notify patients who received the medication about the recall. If you need assistance with this notification, please contact the Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Prevention Program at 608-267-7711 or email DHSWIHAIPreventionProgram@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Prepare for Future Shortage of Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable Suspension
At this time Pfizer has not indicated there is a shortage of PCN. Pfizer is currently evaluating the effects of the recall and will communicate any possible shortages in the future.
To mitigate the impact of any potential future PCN shortage, medical providers should take an inventory of their current PCN stock to determine whether they have a sufficient supply of unrecalled medication.
The DHS STI Unit will continue to monitor for PCN shortages that may impact access to appropriate syphilis treatment. If you are a medical provider or organization who is experiencing shortages of PCN, please notify the STI Unit by contacting the syphilis surveillance coordinator at 608-266-1323 or craig.berger@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
If future widespread shortages of PCN do occur because of this product recall, DHS will send additional communication and will provide recommendations for managing medication shortages.
Sincerely,
Ryan Westergaard, MD, PhD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist
Bureau of Communicable Diseases
Division of Public Health
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Resources
Questions
Questions regarding this health alert or syphilis reporting and surveillance in Wisconsin may be directed to the Craig Berger, syphilis surveillance coordinator at 608-266-1323 or craig.berger@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Questions about notifying patients who have received treatment from lots in the recall may be directed to the Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Prevention Program at 608-267-7711 or email DHSWIHAIPreventionProgram@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
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