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Ampicillin |
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| Biological agents targetted | Anthrax, dysentery, typhoid fever |
| Generally effective against | A broad spectrum antibiotic active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. |
| Available forms | Capsules, tablets, powders oral suspensions, powder for injections, intravenous infusions. Usually supplied as a mixture of the sodium salt and the trihydrate. |
| Indications and usage | Generally indicated for a number of bacterial infections including shigellosis (dysentery), gonorrhoea, meningitis, Escherichia coli, Streptococcal and Staphylococcal infections. |
| Contraindications | Ampicillin sensitivity of the infection should be demonstrated before use. Any known adverse reaction to penicillins and related antibiotics. |
| Drug interactions | Penicillins as a class are interfered with bacteriostatic antibiotics such as tetracyclines chloramphenicol erythromycins and sulfonamides. Also interacts with oral contraceptives, allopurinol, and probenecid. |
| Adverse
reactions and side effects
NOTE: all such reactions are rare. |
Penicillins can cause a severe hypersensitive allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock) that can be fatal if not treated immediately. Any prior adverse reactions to penicillins should be considered before use. The hypersensitivity can also cause some disturbances of blood cell counts (thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, leukopenia or agranulocytosis) that are reversed when the therapy ends. Oral dosages can cause diarrhea or pseudomembranous colitis and other digestive and oral discomforts. Hives (a raised red rash) is common and more severe skin problems have been seen.
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| Mode of action | Ampicillins inhibit one the enzymes involved in the synthesis of the bacterial cell walls. The loss of the stability conferred by the wall leads to the cell lysing. |
| Structure |  |
| Chemical names | 6-[[(2R)-aminophenylacetyl]amino]-3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2carboxylic acid |
| CAS Registry number | 69-53-4 |
| (known and reported, not all may be current.) |
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| Other salts
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