Experience with ampicillin/sulbactam in severe infections.

Abstract

The emergence of beta-lactamase-mediated resistance to established beta-lactam antibiotics prompted the development of beta-lactamase inhibitors for co-administration. Ampicillin has been combined with sulbactam for both parenteral and oral (as the mutual pro-drug sultamicillin) administration. The combination is active in vitro against a wide variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including aerobic and anaerobic organisms. In clinical trials, ampicillin/sulbactam has proved clinically and bacteriologically effective against a variety of frequently encountered pediatric infections, including mild-to-moderate upper respiratory tract infections (acute otitis media, sinusitis, pharyngitis, and tonsillitis), severe post-operative and intra-abdominal infections, periorbital infections (which, left untreated, can lead to blindness, brain abscess, or death), acute epiglottitis, bacterial meningitis, and brain abscess. Ampicillin/sulbactam has also proved effective in the prevention of post-operative surgical infections in pediatric patients. The clinical efficacy profile of ampicillin/sulbactam and sultamicillin, combined with their excellent tolerability profile, make these agents attractive options for the management of many life-threatening infections in pediatric patients.

• Authors: G Kanra
• Journal: The Journal of international medical research (J Int Med Res) Vol. 30 Suppl 1 Pg. 20A-30A ( 2002) ISSN: 0300-0605 [Print] England
• PMID: 11921491 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Ampicillin
• Sulbactam

Topics

• Ampicillin (administration & dosage)
• Bacterial Infections (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Brain Abscess (drug therapy)
• Diabetic Foot (drug therapy)
• Drug Therapy, Combination (administration & dosage)
• Epiglottitis (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Meningitis, Bacterial (drug therapy)
• Orbital Diseases (drug therapy)
• Postoperative Complications (drug therapy)
• Respiratory Tract Infections (drug therapy)
• Safety
• Sulbactam (administration & dosage)
• Urethritis (drug therapy)