Efficacy of ampicillin-sulbactam is not dependent upon maintenance of a critical ratio between components: sulbactam pharmacokinetics in pharmacodynamic interactions.

An in vitro pharmacokinetic model (IVPM) and a mouse model of lethal bacteremia were used to compare the pharmacodynamics of ampicillin-sulbactam when the two components were dosed simultaneously and in sequence against TEM-1-producing Escherichia coli. The challenge isolates included three strains of E. coli producing various levels of beta-lactamase. Human pharmacokinetics of ampicillin-sulbactam (1.5- and 3.0-g intravenous doses) were simulated in each model, and pharmacodynamic interactions were evaluated over one 6-h dosing interval. Against all three strains, the sequential dosing of sulbactam prior to ampicillin did not alter the pharmacodynamics of these combinations from comparison with results obtained with the simultaneous administration of the two components. Similar pharmacodynamics were observed for the two dosing regimens regardless of the ampicillin-sulbactam dose used or whether the bacteria were treated in an immunocompetent mouse or in the absence of immune defenses in the IVPM. When antibacterial activity was lost and regrowth of the inoculum was observed, viable bacterial counts increased in both the simultaneous and sequential regimens at a point when sulbactam levels fell below a critical concentration. These data suggest that the efficacy of ampicillin-sulbactam is not dependent upon the maintenance of a constant 2:1 ratio for the two components. Rather, the efficacy of ampicillin-sulbactam appears to be dependent upon the maintenance of one or both components above a critical concentration. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics of sulbactam, specifically, how long sulbactam levels remain above a minimum critical concentration, appears to dictate how long antibacterial activity is maintained with the combination.