title: The clinical development and launch of amoxicillin/clavulanate for the treatment of a range of community-acquired infections.
abstract: By the 1960s and 1970s, problems in the antibacterial treatment of infections had begun to emerge. Previously active antibacterials were being compromised by the development of resistance. Beta-lactamase production was identified in isolates of staphylococci, and, amongst others, in Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. The discovery of the potent beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid, and its protective effect on amoxicillin, a semi-synthetic penicillin with good oral absorption and potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, was thus of great importance in the treatment of bacterial disease. Following preliminary clinical studies in bronchitis and urinary tract infections, amoxicillin/clavulanate therapy was investigated in a wide range of infections and proved to demonstrate a high level of clinical efficacy. These results supported the launch of amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) in 1981 for use in upper and lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections and obstetric, gynaecological and intra-abdominal infections.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, St Andrews University, St Andrews, Fife, UK. peterball1@aol.com
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000266:history* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination