Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid
Combination of Amoxicillin penicillin antibiotic and clavulanic acid a beta-lactamase inhibitor
Trade names Augmentin, Clavulin, Amoclan
Pregnancy category AU: B1
Routes of administration By mouth, intravenous
Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, is an antibiotic medication used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections.
It is a combination consisting of amoxicillin, a β-lactam antibiotic, and potassium clavulanate, a β-lactamase inhibitor.
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic while clavulanic acid is a non-antibiotic β-lactamase inhibitor which prevents metabolism of amoxicillin by certain bacteria.
It is specifically used for otitis media, streptococcal pharyngitis, pneumonia, cellulitis, urinary tract infections, and animal bites.
It is taken by mouth or by injection into a vein.
Common side effects include diarrhea, vomiting, and allergic reactions.
It also increases the risk of yeast infections, headaches, and blood clotting problems.
It is not recommended in people with a history of a penicillin allergy.
It is relatively safe for use during pregnancy.
Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is widely used to treat or prevent many infections caused by susceptible bacteria, such as:
Urinary tract infections Respiratory tract infections Skin and soft tissue infections Sinus infections Tonsillitis Cat scratches Infections caused by the bacterial flora of the mouth, such as: Dental infections Infected animal bites Infected human bites Treatment-resistant tuberculosis Urinary tract infections
Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is a second-line therapy in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
It is active against UTIs caused by Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Enterococci (e.g., Enterococcus faecalis), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis.
It is a definitive treatment against susceptible extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Gram-negative bacteria.
The drug is not effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Morganella morganii, or Providencia stuartii, nor against AmpC β-lactamase- and ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).
Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is not recommended in the empiric treatment of acute pyelonephritis or hospital-acquired UTIs.
In a large high-quality randomized controlled trial of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid for UTI women, early and late clinical cure rates were 79% and 58%, respectively.
Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid reaches a relatively low urine concentration, which might be involved in its lower effectiveness than other antibiotics.
Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is less effective in the treatment of UTI than first-line therapies used to treat UTIs.
It is also used for tuberculosis that is resistant to other treatments.
Adverse effects:
Possible side effects include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, thrush, skin rash, antibiotic-associated diarrhea due to Clostridioides difficile infection—sometimes leading to pseudomembranous colitis may occur during or after treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid.
Rarely, cholestatic jaundice has been associated with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid:the estimated overall incidence is one in 100,000 exposures.
As all aminopenicillins, amoxicillin has been associated rarely with Stevens–Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis.
In addition to its β-lactamase inhibition, clavulanic acid shows central nervous system actions and effects and has been studied in the potential treatment of various psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Many branded products indicate their strengths as the quantity of amoxicillin. Augmentin 250, for example, contains 250 mg of amoxicillin and 125 mg of clavulanic acid.
An intravenous preparation has been available, but no parenteral preparation is available in the US.
Suspensions of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid are available for use in children.