Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: STAPHCILLIN versus UNASYN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: STAPHCILLIN versus UNASYN.
STAPHCILLIN vs UNASYN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Semisynthetic penicillin; inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), inhibiting transpeptidation, and activating autolytic enzymes.
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 g 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
0.5-1 hour in adults with normal renal function; prolonged to 2-4 hours in renal impairment. Infants: 1-2 hours.
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).
Primarily renal (70-90% as unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion); minor biliary excretion (<5%) and fecal elimination (<1%).
Renal: ampicillin (~75-90% unchanged) and sulbactam (~75-85% unchanged); biliary/fecal: minimal (<5% for each component).
Category C
Category C
Penicillin Antibiotic
Penicillin Antibiotic