Ampicillin injectable
Injectable ampicillin guidance for severe bacterial infections and severe cutaneous anthrax, with neonatal IV use instructions.
Therapeutic action
Penicillin antibacterial.
Indications
Severe bacterial infections, including septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, postpartum upper genital tract infection, severe cutaneous anthrax, and others, alone or in combination depending on indication.
Forms and strengths, route of administration
- Powder for injection, in 500 mg and 1 g vials, to be dissolved in 5 ml of water for injection.
- Prefer administration by slow IV injection or IV infusion for high doses; use IM route only if correct IV administration is not possible.
- In neonates, administer only by slow IV injection or IV infusion.
Dose
Severe bacterial infections, in combination with other antibacterials
The dose varies according to indication.
- Neonate 0 to 7 days under 2 kg: 50 to 100 mg/kg every 12 hours.
- Neonate 0 to 7 days 2 kg and over: 50 to 100 mg/kg every 8 hours.
- Neonate 8 days to under 1 month: 50 to 100 mg/kg every 8 hours.
- Child 1 month and over: 50 to 100 mg/kg every 8 hours.
- Adult: 1 to 2 g every 6 to 8 hours, or 2 g every 4 hours in meningitis.
Severe cutaneous anthrax, in combination with clindamycin
For administration by IV infusion, dilute each dose in 5 ml/kg of 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% glucose in children less than 20 kg and in a bag of 100 ml in children 20 kg and over and in adults.
- Child 1 month and over: 50 mg/kg, maximum 3 g, every 6 hours or 65 mg/kg, maximum 4 g, every 8 hours.
- Adult: 3 g every 6 hours or 4 g every 8 hours.
Duration
According to indication and clinical response. Change to oral treatment as soon as possible with amoxicillin or a combination of antibacterials, depending on indication.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Once reconstituted, the solution must be used immediately.
- Do not administer to patients with infectious mononucleosis or to penicillin-allergic patients.
- Administer with caution to patients allergic to cephalosporins or patients with severe renal impairment.
- May cause skin eruption, gastrointestinal disturbances, and allergic reactions sometimes severe.
- Do not combine with methotrexate.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
- Do not mix with another drug in the same syringe or infusion.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
Rate this guide
Be the first to rate this guide.