AMOXICILLIN CLAVULANATE

Course overview

AMOXICILLIN-CLAVULANATE IS A MAINSTAY ANTIBIOTIC IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND PRIMARY CARE OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. IT IS A COMBINATION OF TWO SEPARATE DRUGS: AMOXICILLIN AND CLAVULANIC ACID. AMOXICILLIN IS A PENICILLIN DERIVATIVE AND HAS A SIMILAR ACTIVITY AGAINST BOTH GRAM-POSITIVE AND GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA. FURTHERMORE, WITH THE ADDITION OF CLAVULANIC ACID, THE SPECTRUM IS INCREASED TO INCLUDE BETA-LACTAMASE-PRODUCING STRAINS AS WELL AS BROADENING THE COVERAGE TO INCLUDE OTHER BACTERIAL SPECIES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, ADMINISTRATION, AND ADVERSE EFFECTS OF AMOXICILLIN-CLAVULANATE, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE EFFECTIVE USE OF THIS DRUG.