Ampicillin: It is concentrated in bile, so it is effective in gall bladder disease and typhoid carrier. But superinfection…………………
Pro-drugs of ampicillin:
e.g. pivampicillin, talampicillin, and pacampicillin. These are esters of ampicillin which themselves are microbiologically inactive but after oral administration they are de-esterified in the gut mucosa or liver to release ampicillin to the systemic circulation.
Advantages:
- They are better absorbed from the gut than ampicillin itself, so gives higher levels in blood and tissues.
- Because they are inactive when present in the lumen of the gut, they have no effect on the gut flora and less G.I. upset (less superinfection).