Ticarcillin

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Ticarcillin
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(2S,5R,6R)-6-[[(2R)-2-carboxy-2-thiophen-3-yl- acetyl]amino]-3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1- azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-carboxylic acid
Identifiers
CAS number	34787-01-4
ATC code	J01CA13 J01 CR03
PubChem	36921
Chemical data
Formula	C₁₅H₁₆N₂O₆S₂
Mol. mass	384.429 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Protein binding	45%
Metabolism	?
Half life	1.1 hours
Excretion	Renal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	B2(AU) B(US)
Legal status	℞ Prescription only
Routes	Intravenous

Ticarcillin is a carboxypenicillin. It is almost invariably sold and used in combination with clavulanate as Timentin®. Because it is a penicillin, it also falls within the larger class of beta-lactam antibiotics. Its main clinical use is as an injectable antibiotic for the treatment of gram negative bacteria, in particular, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Chemically, ticarcillin is C₁₅H₁₆N₂O₆S₂ (CAS number 34787-01-4). It is provided as a white or pale yellow powder. It is highly soluble in water, but should only be dissolved immediately before use to prevent degradation.

1 Mechanism of action
2 Other uses
3 Dosing and posology
4 Trade names and preparations

[edit] Mechanism of action

Ticarcillin's antibiotic properties arise from its ability to prevent cross-linking of peptidoglycan during cell wall synthesis when the bacteria tries to divide, causing death. It will not treat viruses, including the flu. Because it is similar in structure to penicillin, it should not be used by anyone with allergies to any penicillin-related antibiotic.

Many bacteria have developed a resistance to this antibiotic by producing β-lactamase, which inactivates it. Therefore, all modern ticarcillin preparations include a β-lactamase inhibitor such as clavulanic acid.

[edit] Other uses

In molecular biology, ticarcillin is used to as an alternative to ampicillin to test the uptake of marker genes into bacteria. It prevents the appearance of satellite colonies that occur when ampicillin breaks down in the media. It is also used in plant molecular biology to kill agrobacterium, which is used to deliver genes to plant cells.

[edit] Dosing and posology

Ticarcillin is not absorbed orally, and therefore must be given by intravenous or intramuscular injection. The usual adult dose of Timentin is 3.5g four times a day.

[edit] Trade names and preparations

Ticarcillin: Ticar® (Formerly marketed by SmithKline Beecham until 1999, when it merged with Glaxo to form GlaxoSmithKline; no longer available in the UK. US distribution ceased in 2004. Ticar was replaced by Timentin.)
Ticarcillin/clavulanate: Timentin® (UK and US, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline)