clavulanic acid

Clavulanic acid is a β-lactam drug that acts as a mechanism-based β-lactamase inhibitor. It is not effective as an antibiotic on its own but is used in combination with penicillin-group antibiotics (such as amoxicillin or ticarcillin) to overcome bacterial resistance mediated by β-lactamase enzymes. By irreversibly binding to and inhibiting these enzymes produced by certain bacteria, it prevents the enzymatic degradation of partner antibiotics and broadens their spectrum of activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Clavulanic acid was originally derived from Streptomyces clavuligerus and was patented in 1974. In addition to its primary use in infectious diseases (notably respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections including pyelonephritis), it has been studied for off-target effects such as upregulation of glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) in the nervous system[1][3][5].

Brand names

AugmentinClavulinTyclavClavaseptinClavamoxSynuloxTimentin

Other names

potassium clavulanateco-amoxiclavco-ticarclav