| Item |
Information |
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Drug Groups
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approved |
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Description
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Clavulanic acid and its salts and esters. The acid is a suicide inhibitor of bacterial beta-lactamase enzymes from Streptomyces clavuligerus. Administered alone, it has only weak antibacterial activity against most organisms, but given in combination with beta-lactam antibiotics prevents antibiotic inactivation by microbial lactamase. [PubChem] |
| Indication |
For use with Amoxicillin, clavulanic acid is suitable for the treatment of infections with Staph. aureus and Bacteroides fragilis, or with beta-lactamase producing H. influenzae and E. coli. |
| Pharmacology |
Clavulanic acid, produced by the fermentation of Streptomyces Clavuligerus, is a beta-lactam structurally related to the penicillins. Clavulanic acid is used in conjunction with amoxicillin for the treatment of bronchitis and urinary tract, skin, and soft tissue infections caused by beta-lactamase producing organisms. |
| Toxicity |
Gastrointestinal symptoms including stomach and abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Rash, hyperactivity, or drowsiness have also been observed in a small number of patients |
| Affected Organisms |
| • |
Enteric bacteria and other eubacteria |
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| Biotransformation |
Hepatic |
| Absorption |
75% |
| Half Life |
1.0 hour |
| Protein Binding |
Low (22 to 30%) |
| External Links |
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