[Pharmaceutical challenges concerning Penicillin G : an example with the treatment of syphilis]

Discovered in the early 20th century, penicillin gained prominence during World War II, enabling the treatment of infections that were previously fatal. Now one of the most widely used families of antibiotics, penicillins and their derivatives are considered essential medications by the WHO, being the main reference for empirical treatment of respiratory infections or specific ones such as syphilis. Regular shortages of benzathine benzylpenicillin hinder the proper management of this sexually transmitted infection. Hospital pharmacies adapt to both local and international constraints. Here, the logistics set up by the pharmacy at HUG (Geneva University Hospitals) are illustrated to prevent any risk of supply disruptions, thanks to interprofessional collaboration.