Ampicillin/flucloxacillin (

INNs Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway; before the advent of motorized transportation they also provided accommo ...

) also known as co-fluampicil ( BAN), and sold under the

tradename A trade name, trading name, or business name, is a pseudonym used by companies that do not operate under their registered company name. The term for this type of alternative name is a "fictitious" business name. Registering the fictitious name w ...

Magnapen, is a combination drug of the two

β-lactam antibiotic β-lactam antibiotics (beta-lactam antibiotics) are antibiotics that contain a beta-lactam ring in their chemical structure. This includes penicillin derivatives (penams), cephalosporins and cephamycins (cephems), monobactams, carbapenems and c ...

ampicillin Ampicillin is an antibiotic used to prevent and treat a number of bacterial infections, such as respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis, salmonellosis, and endocarditis. It may also be used to prevent group B strepto ...

and

flucloxacillin Flucloxacillin, also known as floxacillin, is an antibiotic used to treat skin infections, external ear infections, infections of leg ulcers, diabetic foot infections, and infection of bone. It may be used together with other medications to t ...

, both in equal amounts, available in a capsule and as a liquid, both taken by mouth, and as a formulation which can be given by injection into muscle or vein. It is used to treat infections before the laboratory results confirm the causative organism. Side effects include stomach or bowel upsets. It should not be taken by people allergic to penicillin.

Indication

The combination of ampicillin/flucloxacillin is typically given before laboratory results are known. Conditions for which it may be used include infections in the chest,

ear An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ear is usually described as having three parts—the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear consists of ...

, throat, skin and soft tissue. It can be given in

septic abortion Septic abortion describes any type of abortion (intentional termination or miscarriage), due to an upper genital tract bacterial infection including the inflammation of the endometrium during or after 20 weeks of gestation. The genital tract durin ...

puerperal fever Postpartum infections, also known as childbed fever and puerperal fever, are any bacterial infections of the female reproductive tract following childbirth or miscarriage. Signs and symptoms usually include a fever greater than , chills, lower ab ...

and in people receiving immunosuppressive treatments, and to prevent infection after surgery.

Formulations

It is available in a capsule and a liquid, both taken by mouth, and as a formulation which can be given by injection into muscle or vein. Capsules contain 250 mg of each component, the syrup 125/125 mg per spoon, and the powder for reconstruction for

intravenous Intravenous therapy (abbreviated as IV therapy) is a medical technique that administers fluids, medications and nutrients directly into a person's vein. The intravenous route of administration is commonly used for rehydration or to provide nutrie ...

injection 250/250 mg. File:Co-fluampicil capsules and container.jpg, Co-fluampicil capsules and container (UK) File:Co-fluampicil capsules.jpg, Co-fluampicil capsules (UK)

Dosage

The usual dose by mouth is one capsule of 250 mg 4 times a day in adults and half the adult dose as a syrup for children under the age of 10 years but over 2. For children below the age of 2 years, the oral dose is a quarter of the adult oral dose. Ampicillin/flucloxacillin is taken orally about half an hour before food.

Side effects and contraindications

Side effects are the same as per the individual components, with stomach or bowel upset from the flucloxacillin being the most common. Effects on the kidney or blood count may occur. Both parts are members of the

penicillin Penicillins (P, PCN or PEN) are a group of β-lactam antibiotics originally obtained from ''Penicillium'' moulds, principally '' P. chrysogenum'' and '' P. rubens''. Most penicillins in clinical use are synthesised by P. chrysogenum using ...

family of antibiotics, so should not be taken by people allergic to penicillin. The combination is contraindicated in people with a history of flucloxacillin-associated jaundice/hepatic dysfunction and in people with

porphyria Porphyria is a group of liver disorders in which substances called porphyrins build up in the body, negatively affecting the skin or nervous system. The types that affect the nervous system are also known as acute porphyria, as symptoms are ra ...

. It is given cautiously to people with

glandular fever In animals, a gland is a group of cells in an animal's body that synthesizes substances (such as hormones) for release into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland). Structure De ...

cytomegalovirus infection ''Cytomegalovirus'' (''CMV'') (from ''cyto-'' 'cell' via Greek - 'container' + 'big, megalo-' + -''virus'' via Latin 'poison') is a genus of viruses in the order ''Herpesvirales'', in the family ''Herpesviridae'', in the subfamily ''Betaherpe ...

, acute lymphocytic leukaemia or

chronic lymphocytic leukaemia Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). Early on, there are typically no symptoms. Later, non-painful lymph node swelling, feeling tired, fever, nigh ...

; who may have an increased chance of rashes.

Interactions

Interactions may occur with blood thinning medications or

allopurinol Allopurinol is a medication used to decrease high blood uric acid levels. It is specifically used to prevent gout, prevent specific types of kidney stones and for the high uric acid levels that can occur with chemotherapy. It is taken by mouth ...

. Taking the contraceptive pill with ampicillin/flucloxacillin is safe unless vomiting or diarrhoea occurs and persists for more than one day, when extra contraceptive precautions would then be required.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It is generally safe in pregnancy. A trace amount in breast milk does not mean in cannot be used in breastfeeding mothers.

History

Ampicillin/flucloxacillin is one of at least 63 β-lactam antibiotics developed in the forty years following the discovery of penicillin.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ampicillin flucloxacillin Combination antibiotics Penicillins