| Indication | Hetacillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic prodrug used to treat bacterial infections. In the body it gets converted to ampicillin. |
| Pharmacodynamics | Hetacillin is a penicillin beta-lactam antibiotic used in the treatment of bacterial infections caused by susceptible, usually gram-positive, organisms. The name "penicillin" can either refer to several variants of penicillin available, or to the group of antibiotics derived from the penicillins. Hetacillin has in vitro activity against gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The bactericidal activity of Hetacillin results from the inhibition of cell wall synthesis and is mediated through Hetacillin binding to penicillin binding proteins (PBPs). |
| Mechanism of action | Hetacillin is a semisynthetic penicillin prodrug which itself has no antibacterial activity, but is converted in the body to ampicillin and has actions and uses similar to those of ampicillin. Hetacillin is prepared by reacting ampicillin with acetone. Ampicillin rapidly decomposes because of the intramolecular attack of the side chain amino group on the lactam ring. Hetacillin locks up the offending amino group and prevents the decompolsition Hetacillin, once hydrolyzed to ampicillin (and acetone) binds to the penicillin binding proteins found in susceptible bacteria. This inhibits the third and last stage of bacterial cell wall synthesis. Cell lysis is then mediated by bacterial cell wall autolytic enzymes such as autolysins. Targets below reflect ampicillin targets. |
| Absorption | Not Available |
| Volume of distribution | Not Available |
| Protein binding | Not Available |
| Metabolism | Hydrolyzed to active ampicillin via esterases |
| Route of elimination | Not Available |
| Half life | Not Available |
| Clearance | Not Available |
| Toxicity | Not Available |