Question

What is sultamicillin tosylate used for?

Answer 1

Sultamicillin is the tosylate salt of the double ester of sulbactam plus ampicillin. Sulbactam is a semisynthetic beta-lactamase inhibitor which, in combination with ampicillin, extends the antibacterial activity of the latter to include some beta-lactamase producing strains of bacteria that would otherwise be resistant.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Sultamicillin, sold under the brand name Unasyn among others, is an oral form of the penicillin antibiotic combination ampicillin/sulbactam. It is used for the treatment of bacterial infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract, the kidneys and urinary tract, skin and soft tissues, among other organs and for the treatment of gonococcal infections, otitis media, pyelonephritis, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and skin and soft tissue infections.
Sultamicillin is better absorbed from the gut than ampicillin or sulbactam, decreasing the chances of diarrhea and dysentery. The inclusion of sulbactam extends ampicillin's spectrum of action to beta-lactamase producing strains of bacteria. Oral sulbactam with the intravenous form provides a regimen of continuous sulbactam therapy throughout the treatment, resulting in better clinical results.

Note:
The only significant side effect of sultamicillin is diarrhea or loose stools, which, although a frequent complaint in some studies, is of mild to moderate severity and results in a low discontinuation rate. Other adverse effects occurring in the range of $1$ to $10\%$ of people include nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, headache, rashes, and infections with Candida albicans. The dosage may be adjusted according to the age or symptoms.