Pinta Medication

Author: Natalie C Klein, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD more...

Updated: Aug 3, 2011

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Medication Summary
Antibiotics
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References

Medication Summary

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to eradicate the infection, to reduce morbidity, and to prevent complications.

Class Summary

Benzathine penicillin is the DOC but should not be administered to patients who are allergic to penicillin. Alternative therapies include tetracycline or erythromycin.

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Penicillin G benzathine (Bicillin LA)

Interferes with cell wall synthesis during active multiplication, resulting in bactericidal activity against susceptible microorganisms. Should not be administered to patients who are allergic to penicillin.

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Tetracycline (Achromycin, Sumycin)

Alternative to benzathine penicillin for patients who are allergic to penicillin. Treats gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, as well as mycoplasmal, chlamydial, and rickettsial infections. Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding with 30S and possibly 50S ribosomal subunit(s).

Erythromycin (Erythrocin, E-Mycin, EES)

Indicated for the treatment of infections in children who are allergic to penicillin or women who are pregnant. Inhibits bacterial growth, possibly by blocking dissociation of peptidyl tRNA from ribosomes causing RNA-dependent protein synthesis to arrest. In children, age, weight, and severity of infection determine proper dosage. When bid dosing is desired, one half of the total daily dose may be taken q12h. For more severe infections, double the dose.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Natalie C Klein, MD, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, SUNY School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Associate Director, Winthrop-University Hospital

Natalie C Klein, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and New York County Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Thomas E Herchline, MD Professor of Medicine, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine; Medical Director, Public Health, Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio

Thomas E Herchline, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Infectious Diseases Society of Ohio

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Richard B Brown, MD, FACP Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Baystate Medical Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine

Richard B Brown, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Massachusetts Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

Chulay JD. Treponema Species (Yaws, Pinta, Bejel). In: Mandell, Douglas, Bennett eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 5^th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone; 2000:(2)2490-4.
Giuliani M, Latini A, Palamara G, Maini A, Di Carlo A. The clinical appearance of pinta mimics secondary syphilis: another trap of treponematosis?. Clin Infect Dis. May 15 2005;40(10):1548; author reply 1548-9. [Medline].
Antal GM, Lukehart SA, Meheus AZ. The endemic treponematoses. Microbes Infect. Jan 2002;4(1):83-94. [Medline].
Engelkens HJ, Niemel PL, van der Sluis JJ, Meheus A, Stolz E. Endemic treponematoses. Part II. Pinta and endemic syphilis. Int J Dermatol. Apr 1991;30(4):231-8. [Medline].
Hook III EW. Treponemal infections. In: Guerrant RL, Walker DH, Weller PF, eds. Tropical Infectious Diseases: Principles, Pathogens, and Practice. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone; 1999:527-34.
Morand JJ, Simon F, Garnotel E, Mahé A, Clity E, Morlain B. [Overview of endemic treponematoses]. Med Trop (Mars). Feb 2006;66(1):15-20. [Medline].
Farnsworth N, Rosen T. Endemic treponematosis: review and update. Clin Dermatol. May-Jun 2006;24(3):181-90. [Medline].
Woltsche-Kahr I, Schmidt B, Aberer W, Aberer E. Pinta in Austria (or Cuba?): import of an extinct disease?. Arch Dermatol. Jun 1999;135(6):685-8. [Medline].
Engelkens HJ, Vuzevski VD, Stolz E. Nonvenereal treponematoses in tropical countries. Clin Dermatol. Mar-Apr 1999;17(2):143-52; discussion 105-6. [Medline].
Lupi O, Madkan V, Tyring SK. Tropical dermatology: bacterial tropical diseases. J Am Acad Dermatol. Apr 2006;54(4):559-78; quiz 578-80. [Medline].
Parish JL. Treponemal infections in the pediatric population. Clin Dermatol. Nov-Dec 2000;18(6):687-700. [Medline].
Rothschild B. Pinta: specific disease or anomalous skin reaction?. Clin Infect Dis. Sep 15 2005;41(6):914. [Medline].

Erythematosquamous plaque of early pinta. Perine PL, Hopkins DR, Niemel PLA, et al. Handbook of Endemic Treponematoses: Yaws, Endemic Syphilis, and Pinta. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1984.

Violaceous psoriatic plaque of early pinta. Perine PL, Hopkins DR, Niemel PLA, et al. Handbook of Endemic Treponematoses: Yaws, Endemic Syphilis, and Pinta. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1984.

Late pigmented pinta (blue variety). Perine PL, Hopkins DR, Niemel PLA, et al. Handbook of Endemic Treponematoses: Yaws, Endemic Syphilis, and Pinta. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1984.

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