- Ampicillin/sulbactam
Drugbox
type = combo
component1 = Ampicillin
class1 =Penicillin antibiotic
component2 = Sulbactam
class2 =Beta-lactamase inhibitor
CAS_number =
ATC_prefix = J01
ATC_suffix = CR01
PubChem = 656676
DrugBank =
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pregnancy_US =
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legal_AU =
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routes_of_administration =Ampicillin/sulbactam is a combination of the common
penicillin -derivedantibiotic ampicillin andsulbactam , an inhibitor ofbacteria lbeta-lactamase . Two different forms of the drug exist. The first, developed in1987 and marketed in the United States under the tradename Unasyn, is anintravenous antibiotic. The second, an oral form calledsultamicillin , is marketed under the trade name Ampictam outside of the United States. Ampicillin/sulbactam is used to treatinfection s caused by bacteria resistant tobeta-lactam antibiotic s. Sulbactam blocks theenzyme which breaks down ampicillin and thereby allows ampicillin to attack and kill the bacteria.Ampicillin/sulbactam is also used when the cause of an infection is not known (
empiric therapy ). Intra-abdominal infections, skin infections,pneumonia , and gynecologic infections. It is active against a wide range of bacterial groups, including "Staphylococcus aureus ", "Enterobacteriaceae ", andanaerobic bacteria . Importantly, it is not active against "Pseudomonas aeruginosa " and should not be used alone when infection with this organism is suspected or known.
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