title: The history and background of Augmentin.
abstract: Bacterial resistance to the beta-lactam group of antibiotics is frequently due to the production of beta-lactamase which brings about the inactivation of the antibiotic. Clavulanic acid is a naturally occurring inhibitor of beta-lactamase which is capable of rendering penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant organisms sensitive. The compound is obtained by fermentation from Streptomyces clavuligerus. Clavulanic acid shows some structural similarity to the penicillins and cephalosporins and functions as a progressive inhibitor of a wide range of beta-lactamases including those found in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Proteus species, Bacteroides fragilis, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus. Clavulanic acid is well absorbed when given by mouth and a formulation with amoxycillin (Augmentin; Beechams) is now available for clinical use.
mesh_terms: D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D047090:beta-Lactams; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000658:Amoxicillin; D001618:beta-Lactamases