Veterinary Drugs and Treatments
Ampicillin sodium/sulbactam sodium in a 2:1 ratio is effective when
used parenterally for several types of infections caused by many
beta-lactamase-producing bacterial strains of otherwise resistant E.
coli, Pasturella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella, and Proteus. Other
aerobic bacteria commonly susceptible to this combination include
Streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus anthracis, Salmonella,
Pasturella, and Acinetobacter. Anaerobic bacterial infections caused
by Clostridium, Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Peptostreptococcus or
Propionibacterium may be effectively treated with ampicillin/sulbactam.
Type I beta-lactamases that may be associated with Citrobacter,
Enterobacter, Serratia and Pseudomonas are not generally inhibited
by sulbactam or clavulanic acid. Ampicillin/sulbactam is ineffective
against practically all strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
In dogs and cats, ampicillin/sulbactam therapy may be considered
when oral amoxicillin/clavulanate treatment is not viable (patient
NPO, critically ill) or when large parenteral doses would be
desirable (sepsis, pneumonia, other severe infections) for treating
susceptible bacterial infections or prophylaxis.
Ampicillin/sulbactam has been used successfully to treat experimentally
induced Klebsiella pneumonia in foals.
