Abstract

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY OF PENICILLINS IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN

Gian Maria Pacifici

ABSTRACT

The penicillins used in paediatric patients are: penicillin G (benzylpenicillin), penicillin V (phenoxymethylpenicillin), ampicillin with sulbactam, amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, and piperacillin with tazobactam. The dosing has been reported for penicillin G, penicillin V, ampicillin, amoxicillin, and piperacillin. The pharmacokinetics of penicillin G have been studied in newborns, the pharmacokinetics of ampicillin and sulbactam have been studied in children, the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid have been studied in children and the pharmacokinetics of piperacillin and tazobactam have been studied in infants and children. The prophylaxis with penicillin G and with amoxicillin has been reported in infants and children. The treatment with penicillin G, ampicillin, amoxicillin, and with piperacillin/tazobactam has been reported in infants and children. The transfer across the human placenta has been reported for penicillin G, ampicillin, and for piperacillin and these drugs promptly cross the human placenta. The migration into the breast-milk has been reported for penicillin G, penicillin V, ampicillin, and for amoxicillin and these drugs poorly migrates into the breast-milk. The aim of this study is to review the dosing, pharmacokinetics, prophylaxis, treatment, placental transfer and migration into the breast-milk of penicillin G, penicillin V, ampicillin, amoxicillin and piperacillin/tazobactam.

Keywords: amoxicillin, ampicillin, breast-milk, dosing, penicillin G. penicillin V, piperacillin, pharmacokinetics, placental-transfer, prophylaxis, and treatment.