Routes ofadministration Oral CAS Number 76497-13-7 ChemSpider 392048 | ATC code J01CR04 (WHO) PubChem CID 444022 Molar mass 594.659 g/mol | |
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AHFS/Drugs.com International Drug Names | ||
How to pronounce sultamicillin
Sultamicillin is an oral form of the antibiotic combination (codrug or mutual prodrug) ampicillin/sulbactam. It contains esterified ampicillin and sulbactam and is marketed under a number of trade names,Unasyn from Pfizer.
Contents
The pharmacokinetic properties of sultamicillin are improved compared to a combination of ampicillin and sulbactam. Sultamicillin increases the absorption and decreases the chances of diarrhea and dysentery. The inclusion of sulbactam extends ampicillin's spectrum of action to beta-lactamase producing strains of bacteria. Oral sulbactam with parenteral form provides a regimen of continuous sulbactam therapy throughout the treatment, resulting in better clinical results.
Chemical evaluation
Sultamicillin is a mutual prodrug of ampicillin and sulbactam. Ampicillin, a semi-synthetic orally active broad spectrum antibiotic, is linked via a methylene group with a beta-lactamase inhibitor. Sultamicillin is chemically oxymethyl penicillinate sulfone ester of ampicillin.
Mechanism of action
After absorption, sultamicillin releases ampicillin and sulbactam into the system, so all the antibacterial efficacy of sultamicillin is due to ampicillin and sulbactam. Ampicillin exerts antibacterial activity against sensitive organisms by inhibiting biosynthesis of cell wall mucopeptide where as sulbactam irreversibly inhibits most important beta-lactamases that occur in resistant strains.
Indications
Indications for sultamicillin include: