Ampicillin
AMPICILLIN- ampicillin trihydrate capsule
REMEDYREPACK INC.
To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of ampicillin and other antibacterial drugs, ampicillin should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.
DESCRIPTION
Ampicillin trihydrate is a semisynthetic penicillin derived from the basic penicillin nucleus, 6- aminopenicillanic acid. Ampicillin is designated chemically as (2S, 5 R , 6 R)-6-[( R)-2-Amino-2-phenylacetamido]-3,3- dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo [3.2.0] heptane-2- carboxylic acid. Its structural formula is:
Ampicillin Capsules, USP for oral administration provide ampicillin trihydrate equivalent to 250 mg and 500 mg ampicillin. Inactive ingredients: black iron oxide, gelatin, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, shellac, propylene glycol, ammonium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Ampicillin is bactericidal at low concentrations and is clinically effective not only against the gram-positive organisms usually susceptible to penicillin G but also against a variety of gram-negative organisms. It is stable in the presence of gastric acid and is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. It diffuses readily into most body tissues and fluids; however, penetration into the cerebrospinal fluid and brain occurs only with meningeal inflammation. Ampicillin is excreted largely unchanged in the urine; its excretion can be delayed by concurrent administration of probenecid which inhibits the renal tubular secretion of ampicillin. In blood serum, ampicillin is the least bound of all the penicillins; an average of about 20 percent of the drug is bound to plasma proteins as compared to 60 to 90 percent of the other penicillins. The administration of 500 mg dose of ampicillin capsules results in an average peak blood serum level of approximately 3.0 mcg/mL.
Microbiology
Mechanism of Action
Ampicillin is similar to penicillin in its bactericidal action against susceptible bacteria during the stage of active multiplication. It acts through the inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis that leads to the death of the bacteria.
Mechanism of Resistance
Resistance to ampicillin is mediated primarily through enzymes called beta-lactamases that cleave the beta-lactam ring of ampicillin, rendering it inactive.
Antimicrobial Activity
Ampicillin has been shown to be active against most isolates of the following bacteria, both in vitro and in clinical infections, as described in the INDICATIONS AND USAGE section.
Gram-positive Bacteria
Enterococcus spp.
Staphylococcus spp. (non-penicillinase-producing)
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus pyogenes
Viridans group streptococci
Gram-negative Bacteria
Escherichia coli
Haemophilus influenzae (non-penicillinase-producing)
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Neisseria meningitidis
Proteus mirabilis
Salmonella spp.
Shigella spp.
The following in vitro data are available, but their clinical significance is unknown. At least 90 percent of the following bacteria exhibit an in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) less than or equal to 0.12 mcg/mL for ampicillin. However the efficacy of ampicillin in treating clinical infections due to these bacteria has not been established in adequate and well-controlled trials.
Gram-positive Bacteria
Bacillus anthracis
Corynebacterium xerosis
Anaerobic Bacteria
Clostridium spp.
Susceptibility Test Methods
When available, the clinical microbiology laboratory should provide in vitro susceptibility test results for antimicrobial drugs used in local hospitals and practice areas to the physician as periodic reports that describe the susceptibility profile of nosocomial and community-acquired pathogens. These reports should aid the physician in selecting an antimicrobial drug product for treatment.
Dilution Techniques
Quantitative methods are used to determine antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). These MICs provide estimates of the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobial compounds. The MICs should be determined using a standardized test method 1,3 (broth and/or agar). The MIC values should be interpreted according to the criteria provided in Table 1.
Diffusion Techniques
Quantitative methods that require measurement of zone diameters can also provide reproducible estimates of the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobial compounds. The zone size provides an estimate of the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobial compounds. The zone size should be determined using a standardized test method. 2,3 This procedure uses paper disks impregnated with 10 mcg ampicillin to test the susceptibility of bacteria to ampicillin. The disk diffusion interpretive criteria are provided in Table 1.
Susceptibility to ampicillin of Staphylococcus spp., may be inferred by testing penicillin. 3
Perform test(s) to detect beta-lactamase production on staphylococci for which the penicillin MICs are ≤ 0.12 mcg/mL or zone diameters are ≥ 29 mm before reporting isolates as penicillin susceptible. Rare isolates of staphylococci that contain genes for beta-lactamase production may appear negative by beta-lactamase tests.
Consequently, for serious infections requiring penicillin therapy, laboratories should perform MIC tests and beta-lactamase testing on all subsequent isolates from the same patient. PCR testing of the isolate for the bla Z beta-lactamase gene may be considered. 3
Susceptibility to ampicillin of Streptococcus pneumoniae (non-meningitis isolates), may be inferred by testing penicillin or oxacillin. Non-meningitis isolates with a penicillin MIC ≤0.06 mcg/mL or oxacillin zone size ≥20 mm can be considered susceptible to ampicillin. 3
Pathogen | Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (mcg/mL) | Disk Diffusion (Zone diameters in mm) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S | I | R | S | I | R | |
S = Susceptible; I = Intermediate; R = Resistant | ||||||
| ||||||
Enterobacteriaceae | ≤8 | 16 | ≥32 | ≥17 | 14-16 | ≤13 |
Haemophilus influenzae * | ≤1 | 2 | ≥4 | ≥22 | 19-21 | ≤18 |
Enterococcus † spp. | ≤8 | – | ≥16 | ≥17 | – | ≤16 |
Neisseria meningitidis | ≤0.12 | 0.25-1 | ≥2 | – | – | – |
Viridans group streptococci | ≤0.25 | 0.5-4 | ≥8 | |||
Streptococcus pyogenes ‡ | ≤0.25 | – | – | ≥24 | – | – |
A report of Susceptible indicates that the antimicrobial is likely to inhibit growth of the pathogen if the antimicrobial drug reaches the concentration usually achievable at the site of infection. A report of Intermediate indicates that the result should be considered equivocal, and, if the microorganism is not fully susceptible to alternative, clinically feasible drugs, the test should be repeated. This category implies possible clinical applicability in body sites where the drug is physiologically concentrated. This category also provides a buffer zone that prevents small uncontrolled technical factors from causing major discrepancies in interpretation. A report of Resistant indicates that the antimicrobial is not likely to inhibit growth of the pathogen if the antimicrobial compound reaches the concentration usually achievable at the infection site; other therapy should be selected.
Quality Control
Standardized susceptibility test procedures require use of laboratory controls to monitor and ensure the accuracy and precision of supplies and reagents used in the assay, and the techniques of the individuals performing the test. 1,2,3 Standard Ampicillin powder should provide the following range of MIC values noted in Table 2. For the diffusion technique using the 10 mcg ampicillin disk, the criteria in Table 2 should be achieved.
QC strain | Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (mcg/mL) | Zone Diameter ( mm) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
* ATCC = American Type Culture Collection | |||||||||
Escherichia coli ATCC* 25922 | 2 — 8 | 15 — 22 | |||||||
Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 | 0.5 — 2 | ||||||||
Haemophilus influenzae ATCC 49247 | 2 — 8 | 13 — 21 | |||||||
Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603 | >128 | ||||||||
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 | 0.5 — 2 | ||||||||
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 | 27 — 35 | ||||||||
Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 49619 | 0.06 – 0.25 | 30 — 36 |
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