A-Z Drug Facts > Ampicillin Sodium/Sulbactam Sodium

Ampicillin Sodium / Sulbactam Sodium

Pronouncation: (am-pih-SILL-in SO-dee-uhm/sull-BAK-tam SO-dee-uhm)
Class: Aminopenicillin

Trade Names:
Unasyn
- Powder for injection 1.5 g (1 g ampicillin sodium per 0.5 g sulbactam sodium)
- Powder for injection 3 g (2 g ampicillin sodium per 1 g sulbactam sodium)
- Powder for injection 10 g (10 g ampicillin sodium per 5 g sulbactam sodium)

Pharmacology

Feedback for Ampicillin Sodium/Sulbactam Sodium As a treatment for... Avg User Ratings [?] Pneumonia 9.0 0 comments  Rate it! Urinary Tract Infection Be the first to rate it 0 comments   Skin Infection Be the first to rate it 0 comments   Showing 3 of 14 conditions - Show All... Compare with other drugs.

Ampicillin inhibits bacterial cell wall mucopeptide synthesis. Sulbactam inhibits plasmid-medicated beta-lactamase enzymes commonly found in microorganisms resistant to ampicillin.

Indications and Usage

Treatment of infections of skin and skin structure, intra-abdominal and gynecologic infections caused by susceptible microorganisms, and mixed infections caused by ampicillin-susceptible organisms and beta-lactamase–producing organisms.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to penicillins, cephalosporins, or imipenem.

Dosage and Administration

Adults

IV/IM 1.5 to 3 g every 6 h, not to exceed 4 g/day sulbactam (1.5 g of product contains 0.5 g sulbactam).

Children 1 yr of age or older (less than 40 kg)

IV 300 mg/kg/day (200 mg ampicillin/100 mg sulbactam) in divided doses every 6 h.

Children at least 40 kg

IV Dose according to adult recommended doses; do not exceed total sulbactam dose of 4 g/day.

Storage/Stability

Keep refrigerated after reconstitution. Medication is stable for 2 h at room temperature, 72 h if refrigerated. Store at or below 86°F prior to reconstitution.

Drug Interactions

Allopurinol

Increases potential for ampicillin-induced skin rash.

Contraceptives, oral

May reduce efficacy of oral contraceptives.

Tetracyclines

May impair bactericidal effects of ampicillin/sulbactam.

Incompatibility

Do not mix with aminoglycosides (eg, gentamicin).

Laboratory Test Interactions

May cause false-positive urine glucose test results with Benedict solution, Fehling solution, or Clinitest tablets (enzyme-based tests; eg, Clinistix , Tes-tape , are recommended); false-positive direct Coombs test result in certain patient groups; false-positive protein reactions with sulfosalicylic acid and boiling test, acetic acid test, biuret reaction and nitric acid test (the bromphenol blue test, Multistix , is recommended).

Adverse Reactions

Cardiovascular

Thrombophlebitis at injection site.

CNS

Dizziness; fatigue; insomnia; reversible hyperactivity.

Dermatologic

Urticaria; maculopapular to exfoliative dermatitis; vesicular eruptions; erythema multiforme; skin rashes.

EENT

Itchy eyes; laryngospasm; laryngeal edema.

GI

Diarrhea; pseudomembranous colitis.

Genitourinary

Interstitial nephritis (eg, oliguria, proteinuria, hematuria, hyaline casts, pyuria); nephropathy; increased BUN and creatinine; vaginitis.

Hematologic

Decreased Hgb, Hct, RBC, WBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets; increased lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and platelets.

Metabolic

Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, ALT, AST, and LDH; reduced serum albumin and total proteins.

Miscellaneous

Pain at injection site; hyperthermia.

Precautions

Pregnancy

Category B .

Lactation

Excreted in breast milk.

Children

Safety and efficacy not established.

Hypersensitivity

Reactions range from mild to life-threatening. Use cautiously in cephalosporin-sensitive patients because of possible cross-allergenicity.

Renal Function

Use cautiously with altered dosing interval.

Superinfection

May result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible bacterial or fungal organisms.

Overdosage

Symptoms

Hyperexcitability, convulsive seizures.

Patient Information

• Explain rationale for hospitalization during course of therapy.
• Inform patient of potential adverse reactions, and encourage a report of any problems.
• Encourage patient to increase fluid intake to 2,000 to 3,000 mL/day, unless contraindicated.
• Inform diabetic patients that this medication may cause false-positive glucose urine test results, and identify types that will be more reliable.
• If therapy is changed because of allergic reaction, explain significance of penicillin allergy, and inform of potential sensitivity to cephalosporins.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page

Add to my drug list

Pneumonia, Urinary Tract Infection, Skin Infection, Kidney Infections, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Bone infection, Meningitis, Intraabdominal Infection, Aspiration Pneumonia, Deep Neck Infection, Surgical Prophylaxis, Peritonitis, Joint Infection, Epiglottitis

User Reviews:

0 comment(s) about Ampicillin Sodium/Sulbactam Sodium