Ampicillin is a penicillin-based antibiotic that is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, salmonella, meningitis and endocarditis (inflammation of the heart), among others.

It is also commonly given to newborns in order to prevent group B strep infections when they are born to an infected mother.

As with any drug, medication reactions are common and can range from mild and transient to severe and debilitating. Common mild side effects that are generally observed with ampicillin use include mild itching or rash, diarrhea, stomach upset, and nausea.

More serious reactions can include angioedema (rapid swelling of the dermal layer of skin), anaphylactic reactions, Clostridium difficile colitis (inflammation of the large intestine due to a bacterial infection), and a condition called Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Stevens Johnson Disease

Stevens Johnson disease (also known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome or SJS) is a severe drug rash and allergy that is caused by medication reactions. Stevens Johnson disease has been linked to a several families of drugs, though technically any drug may potentially cause this reaction. Antibiotics (especially penicillins and sulfa drugs), anticonvulsants, antifungals and sedatives (barbiturates) are some of the most common triggers.

The medication reactions that occur as the early signs and symptoms of Stevens Johnson disease mimic those found in the flu or a common cold. Fever, chills, fatigue, malaise, weakness and dizziness may initially present as symptoms. Many times these symptoms go unnoticed because they may be symptoms experienced as part of the condition that led to the antibiotics in the first place.

After the initial flu-like symptoms present, the drug rash begins to set in. This is much different from a common rash seen as a side effect to the medication. It begins with small purple or red blisters that slowly spreads. The mucous membranes of the body (eyes, nose, mouth, genital areas, anus) are commonly affected and any skin on the body can develop the rash.

The areas affected by the blistering drug rash begin to peel away and separate from the lower layers of the skin, and the skin may slough off in sheets. The lower layers of skin then become exposed, and the skin on a patient’s body begin to resemble that of a burn victim. If more than 30 percent of a patient’s body is affected, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), a more severe form of SJS, is diagnosed.

Stevens Johnson disease is a medical emergency and patients must be hospitalized to stabilize them. Many are treated in burn units or intensive care units.

There is no cure for Stevens Johnson disease, and only supportive treatment is used. Pain management, hydration, nutrition and infection prevention are the main tasks to help a patient recover.

Some patients recover in a matter of days to weeks, with no serious residual problems. Others may spend months in the hospital and can suffer permanent damage to internal organs or may become totally blind as a result of the condition.

Stevens Johnson Lawsuit Information

Patients and their loved ones who have been affected by Stevens Johnson disease are often surprised to learn that such a severe condition can be the result of using such common and relatively harmless drugs. Some individuals have gone on to file lawsuits against the drug manufacturers, alleging the company failed to warn them of the severe dangers associated with ingesting the drug.

Drug labels may only include the generic side effect as “rash” and may not include a specific warning about SJS. Patients who have gone through the devastation of the disease may feel this does not begin to accurately convey the extent of the potential drug rash medication reactions that may follow.

If you or a loved one took ampicillin or any other drug that led to a diagnosis of Stevens Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, you may have a legal claim. An experienced attorney can review your case for free and can discuss your legal options with you.