Benzylpenicillin (Penicillin G)

• A penicillin
• Usual adult dose 1.2 g IV QDS increasing to 1.2 g 4-hourly for streptococcal endocarditis or 2.4 g QDS for meningococcal sepsis
• Dosage reduction necessary if renal impairment
• Available IV only.
• Crosses CSF only if meninges inflamed.

Main indications

• Streptococcal endocarditis
• Other serious streptococcal infections

Active against most strains of:

• Streptococci (Group A, B, C, G, viridans, pneumoniae, milleri)
• Neisseria meningitidis
• Neisseria gonorrhoea - although many strains have low level resistance
• Clostridium difficile
• Clostridium perfringens

Not active against most strains of:

• Staphylococci
• Coliforms
• Haemophilus influenzae
• Pseudomonas
• Bacteroides fragilis

Page last edited: 09/02/2009

Caution; the antibiotic doses recommended on this website are intended for adult patients with normal renal and liver function unless otherwise stated. Dosing advice for patients with renal impairment is available here.

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