Final answer:
Clavulanic acid is combined with amoxicillin to inhibit beta-lactamase enzymes produced by bacteria, enhancing the efficacy of the antibiotic against certain resistant strains. This combination is commonly known as Augmentin.
Step-by-step explanation:
Clavulanic acid combines with amoxicillin to work against beta-lactamase. Clavulanic acid, first developed in the 1970s and widely used in the 1980s under the brand name Augmentin, represents an important strategy in fighting bacterial resistance. It inhibits the beta-lactamase enzymes produced by bacteria that cleave the beta-lactam ring of susceptible antimicrobial agents, such as amoxicillin, rendering these agents ineffective.
When combined with amoxicillin, clavulanic acid acts as a beta-lactamase inhibitor, binding irreversibly within the active site of these enzymes, preventing them from inactivating the antibiotic. However, despite the increased effectiveness against resistant strains, some bacteria have developed resistance through various mechanisms, like increasing production of beta-lactamase or acquiring new forms of the enzyme not inhibited by clavulanic acid.