Ampicillin (Ampicin) Nursing Drug Card (Simplified) - Pharmacology

Summary

In this video, Nurse Ryan discusses ampicillin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic belonging to the penicillin class. He explains how ampicillin works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, making bacteria vulnerable to destruction without harming human cells. The video covers various uses of ampicillin, including treating respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract infections. Ryan also touches on potential side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, and allergic reactions, and advises on proper usage, including completing the full course of therapy. He emphasizes the importance of caution in those with penicillin allergies or liver issues and advises on managing severe allergic reactions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ampicillin is an antibiotic from the penicillin class that inhibits bacterial growth by targeting cell wall synthesis.
• 😀 Bacteria have cell walls and membranes, whereas human cells only have cell membranes, which is why penicillins selectively target bacteria.
• 😀 Penicillins work by preventing bacteria from constructing their cell walls, making the bacteria vulnerable and causing them to die off.
• 😀 Ampicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, effective against a wide variety of bacterial infections including respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin infections.
• 😀 Some bacteria produce penicillinase, an enzyme that inactivates penicillin, making them resistant to ampicillin.
• 😀 Ampicillin can be combined with other antibiotics (e.g., dicloxacillin) to combat penicillin-resistant bacteria.
• 😀 Common side effects of ampicillin include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, superinfections, and increased bleeding time.
• 😀 A small percentage of people (0.01-0.05%) experience allergic reactions to penicillin, such as skin rashes and anaphylaxis.
• 😀 Ampicillin should not be used in individuals with a penicillin allergy, and it should be used cautiously in those with liver disease or low creatinine clearance.
• 😀 Ampicillin dosing varies, but typical adult dosing is 250 to 500 mg every six hours orally. Fluid intake should be increased to prevent dehydration due to diarrhea.
• 😀 In the event of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis), epinephrine, antihistamines, and corticosteroids are used for treatment.

Q & A

What class of antibiotics does ampicillin belong to?

Ampicillin belongs to the penicillin class of antibiotics.

How do penicillins like ampicillin work on bacteria?

Penicillins, including ampicillin, work by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, preventing bacteria from growing their cell walls, which makes them vulnerable and leads to their death.

How do bacteria differ from human cells in terms of structure?

Bacteria are unicellular organisms that have both cell walls and cell membranes, whereas human cells only have cell membranes and lack cell walls.

What makes some bacteria resistant to ampicillin?

Some bacteria produce an enzyme called penicillinase, which inactivates penicillins like ampicillin, making them resistant to the antibiotic.

What types of bacterial infections can ampicillin treat?

Ampicillin can treat various bacterial infections, including respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis, and more.

What are common side effects of ampicillin?

Common side effects of ampicillin include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, superinfection, and increased bleeding time.

What is a superinfection, and how is it related to ampicillin use?

A superinfection is an infection that occurs after or on top of another infection, often due to damage to the host’s flora caused by antibiotics like ampicillin.

How should a patient manage antibiotic-associated diarrhea while on ampicillin?

Patients should increase their fluid intake to prevent dehydration, and the diarrhea should improve once the antibiotic course is completed.

Who should not use ampicillin, and why?

Ampicillin should not be used by individuals with a penicillin allergy, and it should be used cautiously in those with low creatinine clearance, liver disease, or infectious mononucleosis (mono), as their dosage may need adjustment.

What is the typical dosage for ampicillin in adults?

For adults, the typical dosage of ampicillin is about 250 to 500 milligrams every six hours orally.