Ampicillin
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Uses
Action
- Acts by binding to penicillin-binding proteins near bacterial cell walls, thereby decreasing bacterial cell wall strength and rigidity, and affecting cell division, growth and septum formation.
- As mammalian cells lack a cell wall, the beta-lactam antibiotics are extremely safe.
Indications
- Ampicillin is an acid-stable, beta-lactamase-susceptible aminopenicillin active against many gram-positive and negative organisms, but not against those that produce penicillinases, eg E. coliand Staphylococcus aureus.
- The difficult gram negative organisms (eg Pseudomonasspp and Klebsiellaspp) are usually resistant.
- Most obligate anaerobes are susceptible.
- Ampicillin is excreted well in bile and urine.
Adverse reactions
Other reported reactions
- Nausea, diarrhea and skin rashes are the most common adverse effects.
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