What antibiotics are related to ampicillin (Ampicillin)?

From the Guidelines

Ampicillin is closely related to other antibiotics in the penicillin class, including amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and ampicillin-sulbactam, as well as other penicillin family members like penicillin G, penicillin V, dicloxacillin, nafcillin, oxacillin, piperacillin, and ticarcillin 1. These antibiotics all contain a beta-lactam ring structure that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins.

• The most relevant antibiotics related to ampicillin are:
  • Amoxicillin, which has better oral absorption than ampicillin
  • Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) and ampicillin-sulbactam (Unasyn), which pair the antibiotic with beta-lactamase inhibitors to overcome certain resistance mechanisms
  • Other penicillin family members like penicillin G, penicillin V, dicloxacillin, nafcillin, oxacillin, piperacillin, and ticarcillin While they share a common mechanism of action, they differ in their spectrum of activity, resistance to beta-lactamases, and pharmacokinetic properties. Patients allergic to ampicillin may have cross-reactivity with other penicillins and sometimes with cephalosporins, another beta-lactam antibiotic class, so it's essential to consider this when selecting alternative treatments 1. The choice of antibiotic should be guided by the specific infection being treated, the severity of the infection, and the patient's individual needs and medical history. In general, the use of antibiotics should be tailored to the specific needs of the patient and guided by evidence-based guidelines and local antibiograms, as recommended by recent studies 1.

From the Research

Antibiotics Related to Ampicillin

Ampicillin is a part of the penicillin family of antibiotics, which includes several other related antibiotics. Some of these related antibiotics are:

• Aminopenicillins:
  • Amoxicillin 2, 3, 4
  • Bacampicillin 2, 3
• Penicillinase-resistant penicillins:
  • Methicillin 2, 3, 4
  • Oxacillin 2, 3, 4
  • Nafcillin 2, 3, 4
• Carboxypenicillins:
  • Carbenicillin 2, 4
  • Ticarcillin 2, 3, 4, 5
• Ureidopenicillins:
  • Mezlocillin 2, 4
  • Azlocillin 2, 4
  • Piperacillin 2, 4, 5

Combination Products

Some antibiotics are used in combination with beta-lactamase inhibitors to extend their antibacterial spectra. These include:

• Amoxicillin/clavulanate 6
• Ampicillin/sulbactam 5
• Ticarcillin/clavulanate 4
• Piperacillin/tazobactam 5