Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (38 page)

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

ampicillin (Rx)

(am-pi-sill′in)

Func. class.:
Antiinfective—broad-spectrum

Chem. class.:
Aminopenicillin

Do not confuse:
Omnipen
/imipenem

ACTION:

Interferes with cell wall replication of susceptible organisms; the cell wall, rendered osmotically unstable, swells, bursts from osmotic pressure; lysis mediated by cell wall autolysins

USES:

Effective for gram-positive cocci
(Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae)
, gram-negative cocci
(Neisseria meningitidis)
, gram-negative bacilli
(Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella, Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes)
, gram-positive bacilli; meningitis, GI/GU/respiratory infections, endocarditis, septicemia, otitis media

Unlabeled uses:
Biliary tract infection, shigellosis, typhoid fever, PID, OB/GYN infections, leptospirosis

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity to penicillins, antimicrobial resistance

Precautions:
Pregnancy (B), breastfeeding, neonates, hypersensitivity to cephalosporins, renal disease, mononucleosis

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Systemic infections

• Adult and child ≥40 kg:
PO
250-500 mg q6hr;
IV/IM
2-8 g/day in divided doses q4-6hr

• Child <40 kg:
PO
50-100 mg/kg/day in divided doses q6-8hr;
IV/IM
100-200 mg/kg/day in divided doses q6-8hr

Bacterial meningitis

• Adult and adolescent:
IM/IV
150-200 mg/kg/day in divided doses q3-4hr; IDSA dose IV 12 g in divided doses q4hr

• Infant and child:
IM/IV
150-200 mg/kg/day in divided doses q3-4hr; IDSA dose IV 300 mg/kg/day in divided doses q6hr

• Neonates >7 days and >2000 g:
IM/IV
200 mg/kg/day in divided doses q6hr; IDSA dose IV 200 mg/kg/day in divided doses q6-8hr

Gonorrhea (urethritis)

• Adult and child

45 kg:
PO
3.5 g given with 1 g probenecid as a single dose (not recommended by CDC)

Prevention of bacterial endocarditis

• Adult:IM/IV
2 g 30 min before procedure

• Child:
IM/IV
50 mg/kg 30 min before procedure, max 2 g

GI/GU infections other than
N. gonorrhoeae

• Adult and child
>
20 kg:
PO
250-500 mg q6hr, may use larger dose for more serious infections

• Child

20 kg:
PO
50-100 mg/kg/day in divided doses q6hr

Renal disease

• Adult and child:
CCr 10-50 ml/min extend to q6-12hr; CCr <10 ml/min extend to q12-16hr

Shigellosis in AIDS patients (unlabeled)

• Adult: PO
500 mg qid × 5 days (not recommended by CDC)

Typhoid fever (unlabeled)

• Adult/adolescent/child:
IV
100 mg/kg/day in divided doses q6hr × 14 days or more

Available forms:
Powder for inj 125, 250, 500 mg, 1, 2, 10 g; IV inj 500 mg, 1, 2 g; caps 250, 500 mg; powder for oral susp 125, 250/5 ml

Administer:
PO route

• 
On empty stomach with plenty of water for best absorption (1-2 hr before meals or 2-3 hr after meals)

• 
Shake susp well before each dose

IM route

• 
Reconstitute
by adding 0.9-1.2 ml/125-mg vial; 0.9-1.9 ml/250-mg vial; 1.2-1.8 ml/500-mg vial; 2.4-7.4 ml/1-g vial; 6.8 ml/2-g vial

IV route

• 
IV direct:
after diluting with sterile water 0.9-1.2 ml/125 mg product, administer over 3-5 min (up to 500 mg), 10-15 min (>500 mg)

Intermittent IV INF route

• 
May be diluted in 50 ml or more of D
5
W, D
5
0.45% NaCl to a conc of 30 mg/ml or less; IV sol is stable for 1 hr; give at prescribed rate, do not give in same tubing as aminoglycosides, separate by ≥1 hr

Y-site compatibilities:
Acyclovir, alprostadil, amifostine, aminocaproic acid, anidulafungin, atenolol, bivalirudin, bleomycin, CARBOplatin, CISplatin, clarithromycin, cyclophosphamide, DACTINomycin, DAPTOmycin, dexmede-tomidine, docetaxel, doxacurium, DOXOrubicin liposome, eptifibatide, etoposide, filgrastim, fludarabine, fluorouracil, foscarnet, gatafloxacin, gemcitabine, granisetron, hetastarch, ifosfamide, irinotecan, levofloxacin, linezolid, mechlorethamine, methotrexate, metroNIDAZOLE, octreotide, ofloxacin, oxaliplatin, PACLitaxel, palonosetron, pamidronate, pancuronium, pantoprazole, PEMEtrexed, perphenazine, propofol, remifentanil, riTUXimab, rocuronium, sodium acetate, teniposide, thiotepa, tigecycline, tirofiban, TNA, trastuzumab, vinCRIStine, vit B/C, voriconazole

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Lethargy, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, twitching,
coma, seizures

GI:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
,
pseudomembranous colitis,
stomatitis

GU:
Oliguria, proteinuria, hematuria,
vaginitis, moniliasis
,
glomerulonephritis

HEMA:
Anemia, increased bleeding time,
bone marrow depression, granulocytopenia,
leukopenia, eosinophilia,
hemolysis

INTEG:
Rash, urticaria
, erythema multiforme

MISC:
Anaphylaxis, serum sickness, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis

PHARMACOKINETICS

Half-life 50-110 min; metabolized in liver; excreted in urine, bile, breast milk; crosses placenta; removed by dialysis

PO:
Peak 2 hr, duration 6-8 hr

IM:
Peak 1 hr

IV:
Peak 5 min

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
bleeding, oral anticoagulants, monitor INR/PIJ

Increase:
ampicillin concentrations—probenecid

Increase:
ampicillin-induced skin rash—allopurinol, monitor for rash

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
AST, ALT

Decrease:
conjugated estrone during pregnancy, conjugated estriol

False positive:
urine glucose

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Infection:
characteristics of wound, sputum, WBC; baseline, periodically; C&S before product therapy, product may be taken as soon as culture is taken

 
Nephrotoxicity:
I&O ratio; report hematuria, oliguria; renal studies: urinalysis, protein, blood, BUN, creatinine

• 
Hepatic studies: AST, ALT

• 
Blood studies: WBC, RBC, Hgb, Hct, bleeding time

• 
Bowel pattern before, during treatment

• 
Skin eruptions after administration of penicillin to 1 wk after discontinuing product; identify allergies before using

• 
Respiratory status: rate, character, wheezing, tightness in chest

 
Anaphylaxis:
rash, itching, dyspnea, facial swelling; stop product, notify prescriber, have emergency equipment available

Perform/provide:

• 
Adequate intake of fluids (2 L) during diarrhea episodes

• 
Scratch test to assess allergy after securing order from prescriber; usually done when penicillin is only product of choice

• 
Storage in tight container; after reconstituting, oral suspension refrigerated for 2 wk or stored at room temp for 1 wk

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: absence of fever, draining wounds, other symptoms of infection

Teach patient/family:

• 
That tabs may be crushed; caps may be opened, mixed with water

• 
To take oral ampicillin on empty stomach with full glass of water

• 
All aspects of product therapy: to complete entire course of medication to ensure organism death (10-14 days); that culture may be taken after completed course of medication

 
To report sore throat, fever, fatigue, diarrhea (may indicate
superinfection
); to report rash, other signs of allergy

• 
That product must be taken in equal intervals around the clock to maintain blood levels

• 
To wear or carry emergency ID if allergic to penicillins


 
Pseudomembranous colitis:
diarrhea with blood or pus; notify prescriber

TREATMENT OF ANAPHYLAXIS:

Withdraw product, maintain airway; administer EPINEPHrine, aminophylline, O
2
, IV corticosteroids

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