title: Spotlight on amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 2000 mg/125 mg extended release (XR) in respiratory tract infections in adults.
abstract: Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 2000 mg/125 mg extended release (Augmentin XR), referred to herein as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid XR, is a pharmacokinetically enhanced formulation designed to provide more effective therapy in adults and adolescents than conventional formulations against community-acquired respiratory tract pathogens, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae, with reduced susceptibility to amoxicillin.Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid XR maintains plasma amoxicillin concentrations >4 microg/mL for a mean of 49% of the dosing interval indicating that it would be highly effective against S. pneumoniae strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) above the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard's amoxicillin +/- clavulanic acid susceptibility breakpoint of < or = 2 microg/mL. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid XR is at least as effective as conventional amoxicillin/clavulanic acid formulations, levofloxacin, and clarithromycin in treating community-acquired pneumonia, acute bacterial sinusitis, or acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, and has a tolerability profile comparable to that of conventional amoxicillin/clavulanic acid formulations. While the incidence of amoxicillin- or multidrug-resistant S. pneumoniae is not currently sufficient in most regions to warrant the routine empiric use of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid XR, the drug would be extremely useful in those regions with a high incidence of resistant pathogens or in selected patients (i.e. those with S. pneumoniae isolates having amoxicillin MICs > or = 2 microg/mL but < or = 4 microg/mL).
authors.affiliation: Adis International Inc., Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067, USA. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Gillian M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Keating
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination