Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

[Pharmacokinetics of ampicillin in acute appendicitis in children]

I A Komissarov

    Vestnik Khirurgii Imeni I. I. Grekova
    |February 1, 1978
    PubMed

    Insights

    Intramuscular ampicillin (a semisynthetic penicillin) in children with appendicitis provides prolonged therapeutic blood concentrations compared to intravenous administration. Higher doses increase ampicillin levels but do not significantly extend circulation time.

    Area of Science:

    • Pharmacology
    • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
    • Clinical Pharmacy

    Context:

    • Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency in children.
    • Ampicillin is a widely used antibiotic for bacterial infections.
    • Understanding antibiotic pharmacokinetics is crucial for effective treatment in pediatric patients.

    Purpose:

    • To investigate the pharmacokinetics of ampicillin in children with acute appendicitis.
    • To compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of intramuscular (IM) versus intravenous (IV) ampicillin administration.
    • To evaluate the effect of different dosages on ampicillin serum and tissue concentrations.

    Summary:

    • This study examined the pharmacokinetics of ampicillin in 50 children (aged 4-14 years) with acute appendicitis.
    • Both IM and IV administrations achieved therapeutic ampicillin concentrations in blood serum.
    • IM injection resulted in more prolonged antibiotic circulation in the blood compared to IV.
    • Increased ampicillin dosage elevated blood and abdominal cavity tissue concentrations without significantly extending circulation time.

    Impact:

    • Provides valuable pharmacokinetic data for optimizing ampicillin dosing in pediatric appendicitis.
    • Informs clinical decisions regarding the preferred route of ampicillin administration in this patient population.
    • Contributes to the evidence base for antibiotic management in pediatric surgical infections.

    More Related Videos

    A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii09:17

    A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii

    Published on: January 2, 2017

    Amikacin Protection Assay for Quantification and Visualization of Escherichia coli Cell Invasion09:22

    Amikacin Protection Assay for Quantification and Visualization of Escherichia coli Cell Invasion

    Published on: July 3, 2026

    Related Concept Videos

    Estimation of k and VD of Aminoglycosides01:20

    Estimation of k and VD of Aminoglycosides

    Aminoglycosides are a class of antibiotics used to treat various bacterial infections. Clinicians must determine the elimination rate constant (k) and volume of distribution (VD) to optimize therapeutic efficacy and minimize toxicity. The k value represents the rate at which the drug is removed from the body, and the VD reflects the degree to which the drug distributes into body tissues. Accurately estimating these parameters allows healthcare professionals to tailor drug dosing to individual...
    Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

    Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

    Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

    Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

    Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

    In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

    In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...