Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: OXACILLIN SODIUM versus UNASYN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: OXACILLIN SODIUM versus UNASYN.
OXACILLIN SODIUM vs UNASYN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Oxacillin is a penicillinase-resistant beta-lactam antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), thereby blocking the transpeptidation step in peptidoglycan cross-linking. It is resistant to staphylococcal beta-lactamase.
Ampicillin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs); sulbactam is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that prevents degradation of ampicillin by beta-lactamases.
1-2 grams IV every 4-6 hours.
3 g (ampicillin 2 g + sulbactam 1 g) IV every 6 hours; total daily dose of sulbactam not to exceed 4 g.
None Documented
None Documented
0.3-0.8 hours in adults with normal renal function; prolonged to 1-2 hours in neonates and 2-5 hours in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl <10 mL/min)
Ampicillin: ~1 hour (normal renal function); sulbactam: ~1-1.4 hours (normal renal function); prolonged in renal impairment (ampicillin up to 20 hours, sulbactam up to 10-15 hours in anuria).
Renal (70-80% unchanged by tubular secretion and glomerular filtration); biliary (minor, approximately 10%)
Renal: ampicillin (~75-90% unchanged) and sulbactam (~75-85% unchanged); biliary/fecal: minimal (<5% for each component).
Category A/B
Category C
Penicillin Antibiotic
Penicillin Antibiotic