title: Continuous ampicillin infusion as an alternative to intermittent infusion for adult inpatients: a case series.
abstract: Intravenous ampicillin has been extensively used for various kinds of infections for more than fifty years. This drug is administered intermittently, which can result in missed or delayed drug administration and sleep interruption that can have a negative impact on the quality of life during hospitalization. Continuous infusion may solve these concerns. We reviewed the cases of five patients who were treated with continuous ampicillin infusions in our hospital. The ampicillin serum concentrations were from 11.3 to 32.8 μg/mL, which was above the ampicillin MICs of the causative organisms, ≤0.06 to 4 μg/mL. Although the dosages given of ampicillin varied in each case, the serum concentrations showed a strong correlation with creatinine clearance (r(2) = 0.91). All the patients improved at the time of discharge, or transfer to another hospital, with no significant complications during the continuous infusion. Continuous ampicillin infusion could be a better alternative for frequent intermittent infusion for adult inpatients with infections due to ampicillin-susceptible organisms.
authors: Center for Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan.
authors: Taku
authors: T
authors: Ogawa
authors: Center for Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan. Electronic address: kassan@naramed-u.ac.jp.
authors: Kei
authors: K
authors: Kasahara
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacotherapy, Hiroshima University, Japan.
authors: Kazuro
authors: K
authors: Ikawa
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Nara Medical University Hospital, Japan.
authors: Junichi
authors: J
authors: Shigeta
authors: Center for Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan.
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Komatsu
authors: Center for Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan.
authors: Noriko
authors: N
authors: Kuruno
authors: Center for Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Uno
authors: Center for Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan.
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Maeda
authors: Center for Infectious Diseases, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan.
authors: Keiichi
authors: K
authors: Mikasa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000667:Ampicillin; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: Ampicillin; Continuous infusion; Infective endocarditis