Clinical Pharmacology of Ampicillin

Abstract

Ampicillin is a semi-synthetic derivative of penicillin that functions as an orally active broad-spectrum antibiotic. Ampicillin prevents bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin binding proteins (PBPs), which are the enzymes accountable for the formation of the cell wall structure. Ampicillin is a penicillin derivative used for treatment of a variety of infections caused by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as certain anaerobes. The half-life of ampicillin is nearly three hrs during continuous venovenous hemofiltration. Most ubiquitous adverse effects of ampicillin are rash and diarrhea. Coincident administration of ampicillin and oral contraceptives increased the risk of breakthrough bleeding and decreased the efficacy of the contraceptive by interruption of the enterohepatic cycling of ethinylestradiol by means of decreasing the bacterial population of the small intestine, which is responsible for the hydrolysis of the conjugated hormone.