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Penicillin G Potassium Dosage

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 29, 2024.

Applies to the following strengths: 5,000,000 units; 20,000,000 units; 1000000 units/50 mL; 2000000 units/50 mL; 3000000 units/50 mL; 2,500,000 units/50 mL-NaCl 0.9%

Usual Adult Dose for Bacterial Infection

5 to 24 million units/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours

Comments:


Uses: For the treatment of serious infections (septicemia, empyema, pneumonia, pericarditis, endocarditis, meningitis) due to susceptible strains of Staphylococcus species (non-penicillinase-producing strains)

Usual Adult Dose for Pneumonia

12 to 24 million units/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours

Comments:


Uses: For the treatment of serious infections (septicemia, empyema, pneumonia, pericarditis, endocarditis, meningitis) due to susceptible strains of Streptococcus pyogenes, other beta-hemolytic streptococci (including groups C, H, G, L, M), S pneumoniae

Usual Adult Dose for Septicemia

12 to 24 million units/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours

Comments:


Uses: For the treatment of serious infections (septicemia, empyema, pneumonia, pericarditis, endocarditis, meningitis) due to susceptible strains of Streptococcus pyogenes, other beta-hemolytic streptococci (including groups C, H, G, L, M), S pneumoniae

Usual Adult Dose for Streptococcal Infection

12 to 24 million units/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours

Comments:


Uses: For the treatment of serious infections (septicemia, empyema, pneumonia, pericarditis, endocarditis, meningitis) due to susceptible strains of Streptococcus pyogenes, other beta-hemolytic streptococci (including groups C, H, G, L, M), S pneumoniae

Usual Adult Dose for Endocarditis

Streptococci infection: 12 to 24 million units/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Staphylococci infection: 5 to 24 million units/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Erysipelothrix infection: 12 to 20 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours for 4 to 6 weeks
Listeria infection: 15 to 20 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours for 4 weeks

Comments:


Use: For the treatment of endocarditis due to susceptible strains of S pyogenes, other beta-hemolytic streptococci (including groups C, H, G, L, M), S pneumoniae, Staphylococcus species (non-penicillinase-producing strains), Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Listeria monocytogenes

Usual Adult Dose for Meningitis

Streptococci infection: 12 to 24 million units/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Staphylococci infection: 5 to 24 million units/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Listeria infection: 15 to 20 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours for 2 weeks
Pasteurella infection: 4 to 6 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours for 2 weeks

Comments:


Use: For the treatment of meningitis due to S pyogenes, other beta-hemolytic streptococci (including groups C, H, G, L, M), S pneumoniae, Staphylococcus species (non-penicillinase-producing strains), L monocytogenes, Pasteurella multocida

Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Recommendations: 24 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours

Duration of therapy:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Meningitis - Pneumococcal

Streptococci infection: 12 to 24 million units/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Staphylococci infection: 5 to 24 million units/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Listeria infection: 15 to 20 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours for 2 weeks
Pasteurella infection: 4 to 6 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours for 2 weeks

Comments:


Use: For the treatment of meningitis due to S pyogenes, other beta-hemolytic streptococci (including groups C, H, G, L, M), S pneumoniae, Staphylococcus species (non-penicillinase-producing strains), L monocytogenes, Pasteurella multocida

Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Recommendations: 24 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours

Duration of therapy:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Meningitis - Meningococcal

24 million units/day, administered as 2 million units IV every 2 hours

Use: For the treatment of meningococcal meningitis and/or septicemia due to Neisseria meningitidis

IDSA Recommendations: 24 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours for 7 days

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Neurosyphilis

12 to 24 million units/day, administered as 2 to 4 million units IV every 4 hours for 10 to 14 days

Comments:


Use: For the treatment of neurosyphilis due to Treponema pallidum

US CDC Recommendations: 18 to 24 million units/day, administered as 3 to 4 million units IV every 4 hours or a continuous IV infusion for 10 to 14 days

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Actinomycosis

Cervicofacial disease: 1 to 6 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Thoracic and abdominal disease: 10 to 20 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours

Uses: For the treatment of actinomycosis (cervicofacial disease, thoracic and abdominal disease) due to Actinomyces israelii

Usual Adult Dose for Inhalation Bacillus anthracis

Minimum of 8 million units/day IV in divided doses every 6 hours

Comments:


Use: For the treatment of anthrax due to Bacillus anthracis

US CDC Recommendations: 4 million units IV every 4 hours

Duration of Therapy:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Cutaneous Bacillus anthracis

Minimum of 8 million units/day IV in divided doses every 6 hours

Comments:


Use: For the treatment of anthrax due to Bacillus anthracis

US CDC Recommendations: 4 million units IV every 4 hours

Duration of Therapy:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Clostridial Infection

20 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours

Comments:


Uses: For botulism (as adjunctive therapy to antitoxin), gas gangrene, tetanus (as adjunctive therapy to human tetanus immune globulin) due to Clostridium species

Usual Adult Dose for Tetanus

20 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours

Comments:


Uses: For botulism (as adjunctive therapy to antitoxin), gas gangrene, tetanus (as adjunctive therapy to human tetanus immune globulin) due to Clostridium species

Usual Adult Dose for Botulism

20 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours

Comments:


Uses: For botulism (as adjunctive therapy to antitoxin), gas gangrene, tetanus (as adjunctive therapy to human tetanus immune globulin) due to Clostridium species

Usual Adult Dose for Diphtheria

2 to 3 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours for 10 to 12 days

Uses: For diphtheria (as adjunctive therapy to antitoxin and prevention of carrier state) due to Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Usual Adult Dose for Fusospirochetosis

5 to 10 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours

Uses: For the treatment of fusospirochetosis (severe infections of the oropharynx (Vincent's), lower respiratory tract, genital area) due to Fusobacterium species and spirochetes

Usual Adult Dose for Bacteremia

Pasteurella infections: 4 to 6 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours for 2 weeks
Gram-negative bacillary infections: No specific guidelines have been suggested by the manufacturer.

Comments:


Uses: For the treatment of Pasteurella infections (including bacteremia, meningitis) due to P multocida; for the treatment of gram-negative bacillary infections (bacteremias) due to gram-negative bacillary organisms (i.e., Enterobacteriaceae)

Usual Adult Dose for Gram Negative Infection

Pasteurella infections: 4 to 6 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours for 2 weeks
Gram-negative bacillary infections: No specific guidelines have been suggested by the manufacturer.

Comments:


Uses: For the treatment of Pasteurella infections (including bacteremia, meningitis) due to P multocida; for the treatment of gram-negative bacillary infections (bacteremias) due to gram-negative bacillary organisms (i.e., Enterobacteriaceae)

Usual Adult Dose for Rat-bite Fever

12 to 20 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours for 3 to 4 weeks

Uses: For the treatment of Haverhill fever due to Streptobacillus moniliformis; for the treatment of rat-bite fever due to Spirillum minus or S moniliformis

Usual Adult Dose for Lyme Disease - Arthritis

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and IDSA Recommendations: 18 to 24 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours
Duration of therapy: 14 days

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Lyme Disease - Carditis

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and IDSA Recommendations: 18 to 24 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours
Duration of therapy: 14 days

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Lyme Disease - Neurologic

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and IDSA Recommendations: 18 to 24 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours
Duration of therapy: 14 days

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Prevention of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease

US CDC Recommendations: 5 million units IV initially followed by 2.5 to 3 million units IV every 4 hours until delivery

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Skin or Soft Tissue Infection

IDSA Recommendations: 2 to 4 million units IV every 4 to 6 hours

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Joint Infection

IDSA Recommendations:


Duration of therapy:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Osteomyelitis

IDSA Recommendations:


Duration of therapy:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Leptospirosis

US CDC Recommendations: 1.5 million units IV every 6 hours

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Gonococcal Infection - Disseminated

10 million units/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Duration of therapy: Depends on nature and severity of infection

Comments:


Use: For the treatment of disseminated gonococcal infections (such as meningitis, endocarditis, arthritis, etc.) due to penicillin-susceptible N gonorrhoeae

Usual Pediatric Dose for Bacterial Infection

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommendations:
Neonates:


1 month or older: 100,000 to 300,000 units/kg/day IM or IV divided in 4 to 6 doses
Maximum dose: 24 million units/day

Usual Pediatric Dose for Pneumonia

150,000 to 300,000 units/kg/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Duration of therapy: Depends on nature and severity of infection

Uses: For the treatment of serious infections (such as pneumonia, endocarditis) due to susceptible strains of streptococci (including S pneumoniae) and meningococcus

AAP Recommendations:

Maximum dose: 24 million units/day

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) and IDSA Recommendations:
Infants and children older than 3 months:

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Streptococcal Infection

150,000 to 300,000 units/kg/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Duration of therapy: Depends on nature and severity of infection

Uses: For the treatment of serious infections (such as pneumonia, endocarditis) due to susceptible strains of streptococci (including S pneumoniae) and meningococcus

AAP Recommendations:

Maximum dose: 24 million units/day

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) and IDSA Recommendations:
Infants and children older than 3 months:

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Endocarditis

150,000 to 300,000 units/kg/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Duration of therapy: Depends on the nature and severity of infection

Uses: For the treatment of endocarditis due to susceptible strains of streptococci (including S pneumoniae) and meningococcus

Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningitis - Meningococcal

250,000 units/kg/day IV in equally divided doses every 4 hours
Duration of therapy: 7 to 14 days, depending on nature and severity of infection
Maximum dose: 12 to 20 million units/day

AAP Recommendations: 300,000 units/kg/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Maximum dose: 12 million units/day

IDSA Recommendations:

Maximum dose: 24 million units/day

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningitis

250,000 units/kg/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours
Duration of therapy: 7 to 14 days, depending on nature and severity of infection
Maximum dose: 12 to 20 million units/day

Use: For the treatment of meningitis due to susceptible strains of pneumococcus

AAP Recommendations:

Maximum dose: 24 million units/day

IDSA Recommendations:
Maximum dose: 24 million units/day

Duration of therapy:

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningitis - Pneumococcal

250,000 units/kg/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours
Duration of therapy: 7 to 14 days, depending on nature and severity of infection
Maximum dose: 12 to 20 million units/day

Use: For the treatment of meningitis due to susceptible strains of pneumococcus

AAP Recommendations:

Maximum dose: 24 million units/day

IDSA Recommendations:
Maximum dose: 24 million units/day

Duration of therapy:

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningitis - Streptococcus Group B

AAP Recommendations:

Duration of therapy (uncomplicated meningitis): 14 days

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Congenital Syphilis

1 month or older: 200,000 to 300,000 units/kg/day, administered as 50,000 units/kg IV every 4 to 6 hours for 10 to 14 days

Use: For the treatment of congenital syphilis due to T pallidum

US CDC and AAP Recommendations:
Neonates: 50,000 units/kg IV every 12 hours during the first 7 days of life, then 50,000 units/kg IV every 8 hours
Total duration of therapy: 10 days

1 month or older: 200,000 to 300,000 units/kg/day, administered as 50,000 units/kg IV every 4 to 6 hours for 10 days

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Neurosyphilis

1 month or older: 200,000 to 300,000 units/kg/day, administered as 50,000 units/kg IV every 4 to 6 hours for 10 to 14 days

Use: For the treatment of neurosyphilis due to T pallidum

AAP Recommendations for Patients Older than 1 Month and US CDC, NIH, HIVMA/IDSA, PIDS, and AAP Recommendations for HIV-Exposed and HIV-Infected Children: 200,000 to 300,000 units/kg/day, administered as 50,000 units/kg IV every 4 to 6 hours for 10 to 14 days
Maximum dose: 18 to 24 million units/day

US CDC, NIH, and HIVMA/IDSA Recommendations for HIV-Infected Adolescents: 18 to 24 million units/day, administered as 3 to 4 million units IV every 4 hours or a continuous infusion for 10 to 14 days

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Inhalation Bacillus anthracis

AAP Recommendations:
Up to 4 weeks of age:


1 month or older: 400,000 units/kg/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours
Maximum dose: 4 million units/dose

Duration of therapy:

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Cutaneous Bacillus anthracis

AAP Recommendations:
Up to 4 weeks of age:


1 month or older: 400,000 units/kg/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours
Maximum dose: 4 million units/dose

Duration of therapy:

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Diphtheria

150,000 to 250,000 units/kg/day IV in equally divided doses every 6 hours for 7 to 10 days

Uses: For diphtheria (as adjunctive therapy to antitoxin and prevention of carrier state) due to C diphtheriae

AAP Recommendations:
1 month or older: 100,000 to 300,000 units/kg/day IV divided in 4 to 6 doses for 14 days

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Rat-bite Fever

150,000 to 250,000 units/kg/day in equally divided doses every 4 hours for 4 weeks

Comments:


Uses: For the treatment of Haverhill fever with endocarditis due to S moniliformis; for the treatment of rat-bite fever due to S minus or S moniliformis

Usual Pediatric Dose for Lyme Disease - Arthritis

AAN and IDSA Recommendations:
Children: 200,000 to 400,000 units/kg/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours
Maximum dose: 18 to 24 million units/day
Duration of therapy: 14 days

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Lyme Disease - Carditis

AAN and IDSA Recommendations:
Children: 200,000 to 400,000 units/kg/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours
Maximum dose: 18 to 24 million units/day
Duration of therapy: 14 days

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Lyme Disease - Neurologic

AAN and IDSA Recommendations:
Children: 200,000 to 400,000 units/kg/day IV in divided doses every 4 hours
Maximum dose: 18 to 24 million units/day
Duration of therapy: 14 days

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Skin or Soft Tissue Infection

IDSA Recommendations:
1 month or older: 60,000 to 100,000 units/kg IV every 6 hours
Maximum dose: 2 to 4 million units/dose

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Tetanus

AAP Recommendations: 100,000 units/kg/day IV in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours
Maximum dose: 12 million units/day
Duration of therapy: 7 to 10 days

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Gonococcal Infection - Disseminated

Less than 45 kg:


At least 45 kg:

Comments:

Use: For the treatment of disseminated gonococcal infections (arthritis, meningitis, endocarditis) due to penicillin-susceptible N gonorrhoeae

Renal Dose Adjustments

Uremic patients with CrCl greater than 10 mL/min/1.73 m2: Administer a full loading dose followed by one-half of the loading dose every 4 to 5 hours.
CrCl less than 10 mL/min/1.73 M2: Administer a full loading dose followed by one-half of the loading dose every 8 to 10 hours.

Comments:

Liver Dose Adjustments

Liver dysfunction: No adjustment recommended.

Comments:

Dose Adjustments

A reduction in total dose should be considered if any impairment of organ system function (including electrolyte balance, hepatic, renal, and hematopoietic systems, and cardiac and vascular status) occurs or is suspected.

Precautions

CONTRAINDICATIONS:


Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

Dialysis

Data not available

Comments:

Other Comments

Administration advice:


Storage requirements:

Reconstitution/preparation techniques:

IV compatibility:

General:

Monitoring:

Patient advice:

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.