Question

Clavulanic acid added to semisynthetic penicillins = Clavamox and Augmentum brand antibiotics. How does the addition of Clavulinic acid enhance the kill of the bacterium?

Answer 1

The amoxicillin is a beta lactam antibiotic, that acts by inhibiting the synthesis of cell wall, thus results in the killing of bacterium. However, most gram negative and positive organisms, produces enzyme beta lactamases, that inactivates the beta lactam structured drug. The clavulanic acid is a beta lactamases inhibitor, that acts on bacteria and inhibits the production of enzyme by bacteria.

           Hence if amoxicillin is given along with clavulanic acid, the latter inhibits the enzyme, and re- establishes the activity of amoxicillin, thus enhances the bactericidal effect.