Ampicillin ELISA Kit (ab285227)

Ampicillin is a semisynthetic antibiotic, a member of the penicillin family of antibiotics. To extend the usefulness of the penicillins to the treatment of infections caused by gram negative rods, the broad spectrum penicillins (ampicillin, amoxicillin, carbenicillin, and ticarcillin) were developed. It is created by attaching acid radicals to the central structure of 6 aminopenicillanic acid. Similar in action to penicillin G, the most widely used natural penicillin ampicillin (or alpha aminobenzylpenicillin) is more stable in stomach acids and therefore may be given orally; it is also more active against certain strains of bacteria. It is used regularly to treat common urinary tract infections, some respiratory infections, and bacterial meningitis in children, although many strains of Hemophilus influenzae (the most common cause of bacterial meningitis) are now resistant to ampicillin, and it commonly is used along with other drugs.