II. Preparations: Amoxicillin and Ampicillin
-
Ampicillin
- Child: 50-200 mg/kg/day IV divided qid
-
Amoxicillin
- Maximum dose: Maximum dose: 3-4 grams/day
- Adult: 875 to 1000 mg orally twice daily
- Child
- Low dose: 45 mg/kg/day divided twice daily
- High dose: 90 mg/kg/day divided twice daily
III. Preparations: Added Beta-Lactamase resistance
-
Ampicillin Sulbactam (Unasyn)
- Adult: 1.5-3 grams IV every 6 hours
-
Amoxicillin Clavulanate (Augmentin)
- Adult: 875 mg PO bid
- Child: 45 mg/kg/day divided PO bid
IV. Mechanism
- Same as for Natural Penicillins
-
Amino Acid side group
- Hydrophilic, and allows penetration via pores in Gram Negative Bacterial outer membrane
- Clavulanic acid and sulbactam bind Beta-Lactamases and block Penicillinases
V. Pharmacokinetics
- Keep Augmentin suspension refrigerated
- Clavulanate suspension breaks down at room Temperature
- Turns brown with breakdown
- Loses 90% of potency after 2 days at room Temperature
VI. Pathophysiology: Bacterial Resistance Mechanisms Overcome
- Beta-Lactamase Production
- Alteration of Penicillin binding Protein
VII. Activity Spectrum
- General
- Conditions
VIII. Adverse effects
- Similar to Natural Penicillins
- Maculopapular rash
- Onset 5-7 days after initiating medication
- Typically not IgE mediated (non-allergic)
- No immediate allergy (e.g. Urticaria), systemic symptoms or mucous membrane involvement
- Typically safe to use Amoxicillin in future if non-allergic rash alone
- Consider IgE Skin Testing if unclear rash etiology
- References
- Orman and Hayes in Herbert (2017) EM:Rap 17(7): 7-8
-
Diarrhea (modifications can decrease stools to 12%)
- Dose exactly by kilogram for children
- Avoid food before dose
- Consider eating yogurt with each dose