Antibiotic
clavulanic acid
May Treat:
Haemophilus Infections;
Otitis Media;
Staphylococcal Infections
More Information:
Definitions related to clavulanic acid:
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A beta-lactam antibiotic produced by the actinobacterium Streptomyces clavuligerus. It is a suicide inhibitor of bacterial beta-lactamase enzymes. Administered alone, it has only weak antibacterial activity against most organisms, but given in combination with other beta-lactam antibiotics it prevents antibiotic inactivation by microbial lactamase.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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A semisynthetic beta-lactamase inhibitor isolated from Streptomyces. Clavulanic acid contains a beta-lactam ring and binds strongly to beta-lactamase at or near its active site, thereby hindering enzymatic activity. This protects other beta-lactam antibiotics from beta-lactamase catalysis, thereby enhancing their antibacterial effects. This agent is used in conjunction with beta-lactamase susceptible antibiotics, such as penicillins and cephalosporins, to treat infections caused by beta-lactamase producing organisms.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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