The chief advantage of ampicillin over other types of penicillin is the relative stability of the substance in the stomach. Due to this important characteristic, the antibiotic may be administered orally, usually as a capsule, liquid, or pediatric drop. The ease with which this may be done has resulted in the drug’s immense popularity, it finding use in the treatment of a number of respiratory and urinary-tract infections, as well as bacterial meningitis, typhoid fever, and similar illnesses. Unfortunately, the heavy use of ampicillin is decreasing its effectiveness against some strains of certain infections, and, therefore, the drug must now often be utilized in combination with other pharmaceuticals.