Investigators: Jonathan Carapetis, Joseph Kado
Powdered benzathine penicillin G (BPG) crystals vary widely in size and shape and are larger and less uniform than crystals found in pre-mixed suspensions of BPG like Bicillin ® L-A. The increased crystals size and shape variability contribute to the viscosity of the reconstituted BPG and are proposed to cause increased pain and frequency of needle blockages associated with BPG injections. Sonication results in more uniform, smaller size crystals which may improve the ease of injection, reduce the risk of needle blockage, reduce the pain associated with injection of the BPG and the health provider satisfaction, which may lead to improved adherence to secondary prophylaxis for RHD.