The only penicillin available in an oral combination with a beta-lactamase inhibitor is amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (also called Co-amoxiclav). This combination was invented by British scientists working at Beecham.

Clavulanic acid is a beta-lactam, structurally related to the penicillins, which possesses the ability to inactivate a wide range of beta-lactamase enzymes commonly found in micro-organisms resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins. In particular, it has good activity against the clinically important plasmid mediated beta-lactamases frequently responsible for transferred drug resistance.

The combination of amoxicillin, a beta-lactam antibiotic, with clavulanic acid, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, results in an antibiotic with an increased spectrum of action and restored efficacy against beta-lactamase producing amoxicillin-resistant bacteria. This drug provides increased antimicrobial coverage of beta-lactamase­ producing strains of S. aureus, H. influenzae, N. gonorrhoeae, E. coli, M. catarrhalis and Proteus, Klebsiella and Bacteroides species. It has little activity against Pseudomonas or methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

On the other hand, broad spectrum of antimicrobal activity of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid increases the risk of development of the resistance.

In clinical situations in which there is increased development of beta-lactamase­ producing organisms, amoxicillin-clavulanate may be the first choice for the treatment of otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis, urinary tract infections and skin and soft tissue infections. Amoxicillin-clavulanate is an excellent drug for treating infections caused by human and animal bites.

Most common side effects with amoxicillin-clavulanate include diarrhea (alleviated by taking the drug with food or water), nausea, rashes and Candida superinfection.

The main drawback of amoxicillin/clavulanate is an increased rate of gastrointestinal side effects, than with amoxicillin alone. This medication can produce a wide range of liver injuries including intrahepatic cholestasis without hepatitis, acute hepatocellular injury, and cholestatic hepatitis with hepatocellular necrosis. The most important predisposing factor is age more than 65.

Amoxicillin-clavulanate is more expensive than amoxicillin.

Yury Bayarski is the contributing author of eMedExpert.com.

More information about Augmentin is available on author’s website.

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Although they have been used in strep throat treatments for decades, some old-fashioned antibiotics such as penicillin and amoxicillin seem to be less effective in overcoming the illness these days. Doctors claim that bacterial strains have mutated and evolved considerably lately, rendering some forms of treatment ineffective in fighting infections. The primary cause for the increased resistance of bacteria to penicillin and amoxicillin is inappropriate treatment. Physicians explain that the misuse of antibiotics allows bacteria to adapt and even become immune to various types of medications.

While in the past penicillin and amoxicillin could successfully cure strep throat, nowadays more and more patients experience a recurrence of the illness soon after the treatment is completed. Recently conducted research results estimate that around 30 percent of patients who are prescribed penicillin or amoxicillin experience a relapse of the illness. Due to their decreased potency in fighting bacteria, physicians strongly recommend not to use penicillin and amoxicillin-based antibiotics any more.

Modern medicine has quickly come up with more reliable replacements for penicillin and amoxicillin. The age of antibiotics has provided us with a wide range of new, more effective drugs such as cephalosporins. Doctors claim that cephalosporins are nowadays the best alternative to old-fashioned antibiotics. Cephalosporins are stronger, more reliable and safer than penicillin and amoxicillin and they can completely overcome strep throat in a shorter amount of time. Physicians state that cephalosporins can cure bacterial infections in 4 to 5 days of treatment, instead of 10, as in the case of other antibiotics. Also, patients who are prescribed cephalosporins in the treatment for strep throat are less likely to experience a relapse of the infection.

Cephalosporins are available under the form of tablets or capsules and they can be purchased from any drugstore. However, just like other antibiotics, cephalosporins are only released with medical prescription and they shouldn’t be used without the doctor’s recommendation.

If you want to find great information on different strep throat subjects check out this links. You can find great content regarding strep throat in adults, strep throat symptoms, home remedy for strep throat and many more strep throat related issues.

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