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Evaluating the duration of post-discontinuation therapeutic ampicillin exposures in preterm infants.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Boutzoukas, AE; Le, J; Kilpatrick, R; Smith, MJ; Laughon, M; Gonzalez, D; Wade, KC; Greenberg, RG; Babilonia-Rosa, M; Benjamin, DK ...
Published in: J Perinatol
March 13, 2026

OBJECTIVE: Determine if preterm infants have prolonged therapeutic post-discontinuation antibiotic exposures (PDAE) following empiric ampicillin. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of 27 infants ≤7 days and <37 weeks gestational age (GA) receiving ampicillin (200 mg/kg/day); 49 post-discontinuation PK samples were collected. Exposures were predicted using PK simulations and a prior ampicillin PK model. The probability of target attainment 24- and 36-h after the final ampicillin dose for various minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the duration of therapeutic PDAE was calculated. RESULT: At 24- and 36-h after ampicillin, the probability of exposures ≥1 μg/mL was 95% and 60%, respectively. PDAE (≥1 μg/mL) lasted a median 33 h (95% confidence interval: 15, 79), and varied with GA, from median 53 h (<28 weeks GA) to 27 h (34-36 weeks GA). CONCLUSION: Many preterm infants experience therapeutic exposures at least 24 h after the final ampicillin dose. Shorter courses could be considered.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Perinatol

DOI

EISSN

1476-5543

Publication Date

March 13, 2026

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pediatrics
  • 3213 Paediatrics
 

Citation

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Boutzoukas, A. E., Le, J., Kilpatrick, R., Smith, M. J., Laughon, M., Gonzalez, D., … Zimmerman, K. O. (2026). Evaluating the duration of post-discontinuation therapeutic ampicillin exposures in preterm infants. J Perinatol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-026-02600-5
Boutzoukas, Angelique E., Jennifer Le, Ryan Kilpatrick, Michael J. Smith, Matthew Laughon, Daniel Gonzalez, Kelly C. Wade, et al. “Evaluating the duration of post-discontinuation therapeutic ampicillin exposures in preterm infants.J Perinatol, March 13, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-026-02600-5.
Boutzoukas AE, Le J, Kilpatrick R, Smith MJ, Laughon M, Gonzalez D, et al. Evaluating the duration of post-discontinuation therapeutic ampicillin exposures in preterm infants. J Perinatol. 2026 Mar 13;
Boutzoukas, Angelique E., et al. “Evaluating the duration of post-discontinuation therapeutic ampicillin exposures in preterm infants.J Perinatol, Mar. 2026. Pubmed, doi:10.1038/s41372-026-02600-5.
Boutzoukas AE, Le J, Kilpatrick R, Smith MJ, Laughon M, Gonzalez D, Wade KC, Greenberg RG, Babilonia-Rosa M, Benjamin DK, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Zimmerman KO. Evaluating the duration of post-discontinuation therapeutic ampicillin exposures in preterm infants. J Perinatol. 2026 Mar 13;

Published In

J Perinatol

DOI

EISSN

1476-5543

Publication Date

March 13, 2026

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pediatrics
  • 3213 Paediatrics