Amoxicillin combined with clavulanic acid, marketed as Augmentin, is an effective strategy against antimicrobial resistance by inhibiting ß-lactamases that could otherwise degrade the antibiotic.
The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid is commonly known under the brand name Augmentin. This combination addresses the issue of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, where bacteria evolve to produce more ß-lactamase or alter their ß-lactamase in ways that make them resistant to amoxicillin alone. Clavulanic acid, produced by Streptococcus clavuligerus, contains a ß-lactam ring and, despite lacking clinical effectiveness by itself, it can bind to and inactivate ß-lactamases.
This inhibition enhances the efficacy of amoxicillin by preventing ß-lactamases from breaking down the antibiotic, making this combination an important strategy against antimicrobial resistance. However, the rise in resistance levels presents ongoing challenges in the fight against bacterial infections.