ampicillin sodium: clinical use

Prescribing considerations

• Confirm that the likely or identified organism is susceptible and obtain cultures where appropriate.
• Reserve parenteral use for situations in which oral administration is inappropriate.
• Review renal function because impaired clearance may require regimen adjustment.
• Consider the formulation’s sodium contribution in patients requiring sodium restriction.
• Avoid use where infectious mononucleosis or lymphoid leukaemia is suspected because rash is more likely.
• Be alert to overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms during prolonged treatment.

Contraindications and cautions

• Hypersensitivity to ampicillin or any formulation component
• History of hypersensitivity to beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins or cephalosporins

Monitoring

• Clinical and microbiological response
• Renal function, particularly in renal impairment or prolonged treatment
• Hypersensitivity during and after administration
• Evidence of superinfection or antibiotic-associated colitis
• Consider blood count and liver tests during prolonged treatment or when clinically indicated
• Use an enzymatic glucose oxidase method for urine glucose testing because chemical methods may give false-positive results

Clinical pharmacology

Ampicillin is a bactericidal, extended-spectrum penicillin that inhibits bacterial cell-wall synthesis during active multiplication. It is eliminated mainly in urine and bile.

Formulation and product differences

• The selected product is a powder for solution for injection and contains no listed excipients apart from ampicillin sodium itself.
• Each vial is single-use and contributes sodium that should be included when assessing total sodium exposure.
• Do not mix with blood products, protein-containing fluids or intravenous lipid emulsions without established compatibility.
• Aminoglycosides require separate preparation and administration pathways.

Injection

Route: Parenteral

Strengths: 500 mg