metampicillin

Metampicillin is a β-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class, prepared by reacting ampicillin with formaldehyde. It acts as a prodrug, rapidly hydrolyzed in acidic environments such as the stomach to release ampicillin. Metampicillin exerts its antibacterial effect by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis through binding and inactivation of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which are essential for cross-linking peptidoglycan chains and maintaining cell wall integrity. This leads to weakening of the bacterial cell wall and eventual lysis. Metampicillin has a similar antibacterial spectrum to ampicillin but is reported to be absorbed more efficiently when administered orally or parenterally, resulting in higher blood and biliary concentrations compared to ampicillin alone. It is particularly effective for treating biliary tract infections due to its high accumulation in bile[1][2][3][4][5].