Additionally, because treatment is long-term, it can be costly and challenging for patients to regularly visit a healthcare facility, and some patients may avoid the injections due to discomfort or fear of adverse events. A steady supply of benzathine penicillin G is an essential prerequisite for treatment of sore throat and to prevent recurrent infection. However, the antibiotic is prone to global shortages. High manufacturing costs and low purchase prices have pushed some manufacturers out of the market while demand for the drug is rising.
When the medication is not available on the shelf, necessary long-term treatment regimens are disrupted. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can be triggered by a streptococcal bacterial infection. It usually starts out as a strep throat infection or scarlet fever that hasn’t been treated with antibiotics. Rheumatic fever can cause inflammation of connective tissues throughout the body including the heart, joints, brain or skin.
