Penicillin recall puts recent gains against syphilis at risk

CNN- A new recall of injected penicillin may put recent gains against syphilis in pregnant women in jeopardy.

Penicillin recall puts gains against syphilis at risk. 

Drugmaker Pfizer is warning doctors that it expects to run low on supplies of ‘Bicillin LA.’ 

That is the preferred antibiotic option for treating syphilis during pregnancy. 

Without treatment, syphilis during pregnancy can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. 

Pfizer’s warning follows a July 10 recall of certain lots of ‘Bicillin L-A’ that were found to be contaminated with floating particles. 

Pfizer says it has not received any reports of adverse events related to the recalled shots. 

Health officials worry the shortage of the drug may reverse recent slowing rates of syphilis in adults and corresponding infections in babies.