Ampicillin/sulbactam in lower respiratory tract infections: a review.

Abstract

The pathophysiology and microbiology of lower respiratory tract infections are outlined and diagnostic and therapeutic problems considered. The use of sulbactam/ampicillin in the treatment of these infections is evaluated. The two drugs have similar pharmacokinetic characteristics; predictable and dose-dependent peak serum concentrations of both agents are achieved after parenteral administration. More than 90% of strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Klebsiella sp, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter sp were inhibited by ampicillin/sulbactam concentrations of 16/8 micrograms/ml. Serum concentrations of ampicillin and sulbactam were 18 to 28 micrograms/ml and 13 micrograms/ml, respectively, after intramuscular administration of 1 gm/0.5 gm of ampicillin/sulbactam and 58 micrograms/ml and 30 micrograms/ml, respectively, after intravenous administration of the same dose. Good distribution of ampicillin/sulbactam into lung tissue, sputum, and bronchial fluid has been demonstrated. In over 2,250 patients treated with ampicillin/sulbactam, the rate of discontinuance of treatment because of side effects was less than 1%. Satisfactory clinical and bacteriologic outcome has been reported in over 80% of patients treated with ampicillin/sulbactam. The cost of ampicillin/sulbactam treatment is generally lower than that of other comparable antibiotic regimens.

• Authors: B A Cunha
• Journal: Clinical therapeutics (Clin Ther) 1991 Nov-Dec Vol. 13 Issue 6 Pg. 714-26 ISSN: 0149-2918 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1790546 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• sultamicillin
• Ampicillin
• beta-Lactamases
• Sulbactam

Topics

• Ampicillin (blood, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Bacteria (enzymology)
• Costs and Cost Analysis
• Drug Resistance, Microbial
• Drug Therapy, Combination (blood, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Respiratory Tract Infections (drug therapy, microbiology, physiopathology)
• Sulbactam (blood, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• beta-Lactamases (metabolism)