ampicillin

noun

am·​pi·​cil·​lin ˌam-pə-ˈsi-lən How to pronounce ampicillin (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

Etymology

am(ino) + p(en)icillin

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ampicillin was in 1961

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 How to pronounce ampicillin (audio)
: 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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!