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ampicillin
noun
am·pi·cil·lin
ˌam-pə-ˈsi-lən
: a penicillin C16H19N3O4S that is effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and is used to treat various infections of the urinary, respiratory, and intestinal tracts
Examples of ampicillin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
More than 80 percent of infections are caused by E. coli, and in a 2022 report, the World Health Organization found that one in five UTI infections caused by E. coli showed reduced susceptibility to standard antibiotics like ampicillin, co-trimoxazole, and fluoroquinolones.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 10 Sep. 2024
The penicillin family contains ampicillin, which is usually injected, and amoxicillin, which is often administered as a pill.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
Authorities said investigators from the Department of Consumer Protection also allegedly found these violations: Sale of foreign prescription pharmaceuticals, including sildenafil used to treat erectile dysfunction and ampicillin, and an antibiotic used to manage and treat bacterial infections.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2024
Listeria is generally treated with the common antibiotic ampicillin.
—Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is used as an alternative for penicillin-allergic patients (since ampicillin is a penicillin derivative).
—Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Examples of penicillin drugs are amoxicillin, ampicillin, and oxacillin. Methoxyflurane.
—Angela Palmer, Verywell Health, 3 May 2023
When an infection is severe enough to require further treatment or hospitalization, there are five antibiotics doctors usually turn to: azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin.
—Catherine Garcia, The Week, 16 Mar. 2023
The change made the bacteria less sensitive to the antibiotic ampicillin and to attacks from the immune system.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2019
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Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1961, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near ampicillin
Cite this Entry
“Ampicillin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ampicillin. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Medical Definition
ampicillin
noun
am·pi·cil·lin
ˌam-pə-ˈsil-ən
: a penicillin C16H19N3O4S that is effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and is used in anhydrous forms, as the trihydrate, or as the sodium salt to treat various infections of the urinary, respiratory, and intestinal tracts see penbritin
More from Merriam-Webster on ampicillin
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ampicillin
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