💉 Streptokinase Injection 1,500,000 IU
🔹 1. Prescription / Indication:
Streptokinase 1.5 million IU is prescribed as a thrombolytic agent (clot-buster) in emergency care settings to treat:
- Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) — within 6–12 hours of symptom onset
- Massive Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
- Severe Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Acute peripheral arterial thrombosis
- Blocked central venous catheters or shunts
- Embolic stroke (only in specific non-hemorrhagic cases; rarely used now)
🔹 2. Description:
- Form: Lyophilized powder (freeze-dried)
- Strength: 1,500,000 IU per vial
- Appearance: White to off-white powder
- Reconstitution: Usually with 5–10 mL of sterile water for injection
- Route: Intravenous (IV) infusion; occasionally intra-arterial
🔹 3. Advantages:
- Rapid clot lysis to restore circulation
- Improves survival in acute heart attacks
- Cost-effective vs newer fibrinolytics (e.g., Alteplase)
- Well-established treatment in resource-limited settings
🔹 4. Nature / Pharmacological Class:
- Class: Fibrinolytic / Thrombolytic
- Type: Bacterial protein derived from Streptococcus
- Mechanism:
- Activates plasminogen → plasmin, which dissolves fibrin clots
- Non-specific lysis of fibrin and fibrinogen (can increase bleeding)
🔹 5. Common Packaging:
- 1 vial of 1.5 million IU lyophilized powder
- Usually packed with:
- 1 ampoule of Sterile Water for Injection
- Available in single-dose vials only
🔹 6. Storage:
- Store between 2°C to 8°C (refrigerated)
- Do not freeze
- Protect from light
- Once reconstituted:
- Use immediately
- If unused, discard within 8 hours (as per label)
🔹 7. Patient Advice / Precautions:
- Strictly hospital-administered — not for home use
- Inform the medical team if the patient has:
- Recent surgery, trauma, or stroke
- History of bleeding or peptic ulcers
- Recent streptococcal infection or prior use of streptokinase (increases allergy risk)
- Monitor for:
- Bleeding: gums, urine, stool, surgical sites
- Allergic reactions: rash, fever, chills, anaphylaxis
- Hypotension: commonly occurs during infusion
- Avoid intramuscular injections and catheterizations post-infusion
- Patients should remain under monitoring for at least 24 hours
🔹 8. Purpose / Use:
- Breaks down life-threatening clots
- Used in heart attack, lung embolism, arterial block, or massive DVT
- Helps reopen blocked arteries and reduce organ damage
- Often used as first-line thrombolytic in countries where cost is a concern