title: In-vitro sensitivity of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (Augmentin) to isolated beta-lactamases and in-vitro antibacterial activity.
abstract: The in vitro sensitivity of amoxicillin alone and combined with clavulanic acid (ratio 4:1) as been studied by a spectrophotometric method utilizing crude extract of the following enzymes: TEM1, TEM2, SHV1, SHV2, TLE1, HMS1, LXA, P99, ENT208. The in-vitro antibacterial activity of ampicillin, amoxicillin alone and associated with clavulanic acid was also determined by an agar dilution method. Clavulanate protects amoxicillin from the hydrolytic activity of plasmid mediated beta-lactamase, conferring a stability on the beta-lactam comparable with that of cefotaxime. The protection of amoxicillin by means of clavulanic acid reduces the minimal concentration of antibiotic necessary to inhibit most bacterial species and allows bacteria to remain sensitive to the drug which might otherwise be resistant.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, First Medical School, University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noviello
mesh_terms: D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000378:metabolism; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002969:Clavulanic Acids; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000667:Ampicillin; D000658:Amoxicillin; D001618:beta-Lactamases; D002439:Cefotaxime