Review

Authors: A Huttner, J Bielicki, M N Clements...

BACKGROUND

Amoxicillin has been in use since the 1970s; it is the most widely used penicillin both alone and in combination with the β-lactamase clavulanic acid.

OBJECTIVES

In this narrative review, we re-examine the properties of oral amoxicillin and clavulanic acid and provide guidance on their use, with emphasis on the preferred use of amoxicillin alone.

SOURCES

Published medical literature (MEDLINE database via Pubmed).

CONTENT

While amoxicillin and clavulanic acid have similar half-lives, clavulanic acid is more protein bound and even less heat stable than amoxicillin, with primarily hepatic metabolism. It is also more strongly associated with gastrointestinal side effects, including Clostridium difficile infection, and, thus, in oral combination formulations, limits the maximum daily dose of amoxicillin that can be given. The first ratio for an amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination was set at 4:1 due to clavulanic acid's high affinity for β-lactamases; ratios of 2:1, 7:1, 14:1 and 16:1 are currently available in various regions. Comparative effectiveness data for the different ratios are scarce. Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is often used as empiric therapy for many of the World Health Organization's Priority Infectious Syndromes in adults and children, leading to extensive consumption, when some of these syndromes could be handled with a delayed antibiotic prescription approach or amoxicillin alone.

IMPLICATIONS

Using available epidemiological and pharmacokinetic data, we provide guidance on indications for amoxicillin versus amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and on optimal oral administration, including choice of combination ratio. More data are needed, particularly on heat stability, pharmacodynamic effects and emergence of resistance in 'real-world' clinical settings.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Amoxicillin; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Drug Dosage Calculations; Drug Stability; Humans; Practice Guidelines as Topic

PubMed: 31811919
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.11.028

Authors: Steven Kwasi Korang, Sanam Safi, Chiara Nava...

BACKGROUND

Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It is the third leading cause of neonatal mortality globally constituting 13% of overall neonatal mortality. Despite the high burden of neonatal sepsis, high-quality evidence in diagnosis and treatment is scarce. Due to the diagnostic challenges of sepsis and the relative immunosuppression of the newborn, many neonates receive antibiotics for suspected sepsis. Antibiotics have become the most used therapeutics in neonatal intensive care units, and observational studies in high-income countries suggest that 83% to 94% of newborns treated with antibiotics for suspected sepsis have negative blood cultures. The last Cochrane Review was updated in 2005. There is a need for an updated systematic review assessing the effects of different antibiotic regimens for late-onset neonatal sepsis.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of different antibiotic regimens for late-onset neonatal sepsis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following electronic databases: CENTRAL (2021, Issue 3); Ovid MEDLINE; Embase Ovid; CINAHL; LILACS; Science Citation Index EXPANDED and Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Science on 12 March 2021. We also searched clinical trials databases and the reference lists of retrieved articles for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included RCTs comparing different antibiotic regimens for late-onset neonatal sepsis. We included participants older than 72 hours of life at randomisation, suspected or diagnosed with neonatal sepsis, meningitis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, or necrotising enterocolitis. We excluded trials that assessed treatment of fungal infections.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Three review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We used the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of evidence. Our primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and our secondary outcomes were: serious adverse events, respiratory support, circulatory support, nephrotoxicity, neurological developmental impairment, necrotising enterocolitis, and ototoxicity. Our primary time point of interest was at maximum follow-up.

MAIN RESULTS

We included five RCTs (580 participants). All trials were at high risk of bias, and had very low-certainty evidence. The five included trials assessed five different comparisons of antibiotics. We did not conduct a meta-analysis due to lack of relevant data. Of the five included trials one trial compared cefazolin plus amikacin with vancomycin plus amikacin; one trial compared ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid with flucloxacillin plus gentamicin; one trial compared cloxacillin plus amikacin with cefotaxime plus gentamicin; one trial compared meropenem with standard care (ampicillin plus gentamicin or cefotaxime plus gentamicin); and one trial compared vancomycin plus gentamicin with vancomycin plus aztreonam. None of the five comparisons found any evidence of a difference when assessing all-cause mortality, serious adverse events, circulatory support, nephrotoxicity, neurological developmental impairment, or necrotising enterocolitis; however, none of the trials were near an information size that could contribute significantly to the evidence of the comparative benefits and risks of any particular antibiotic regimen. None of the trials assessed respiratory support or ototoxicity. The benefits and harms of different antibiotic regimens remain unclear due to the lack of well-powered trials and the high risk of systematic errors.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence is insufficient to support any antibiotic regimen being superior to another. RCTs assessing different antibiotic regimens in late-onset neonatal sepsis with low risks of bias are warranted.

Topics: Amikacin; Ampicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Aztreonam; Bias; Cefazolin; Clavulanic Acid; Drug Therapy, Combination; Floxacillin; Gentamicins; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Neonatal Sepsis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Ticarcillin; Vancomycin

PubMed: 33998665
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013836.pub2

Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors: Nader Shaikh, Alejandro Hoberman, Timothy R Shope...

IMPORTANCE

The large overlap between symptoms of acute sinusitis and viral upper respiratory tract infection suggests that certain subgroups of children being diagnosed with acute sinusitis, and subsequently treated with antibiotics, derive little benefit from antibiotic use.

OBJECTIVE

To assess if antibiotic therapy could be appropriately withheld in prespecified subgroups.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Randomized clinical trial including 515 children aged 2 to 11 years diagnosed with acute sinusitis based on clinical criteria. The trial was conducted between February 2016 and April 2022 at primary care offices affiliated with 6 US institutions and was designed to evaluate whether symptom burden differed in subgroups defined by nasopharyngeal Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or Moraxella catarrhalis on bacterial culture and by the presence of colored nasal discharge.

INTERVENTIONS

Oral amoxicillin (90 mg/kg/d) and clavulanate (6.4 mg/kg/d) (n = 254) or placebo (n = 256) for 10 days.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was symptom burden based on daily symptom scores on a validated scale (range, 0-40) during the 10 days after diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included treatment failure, adverse events including clinically significant diarrhea, and resource use by families.

RESULTS

Most of the 510 included children were aged 2 to 5 years (64%), male (54%), White (52%), and not Hispanic (89%). The mean symptom scores were significantly lower in children in the amoxicillin and clavulanate group (9.04 [95% CI, 8.71 to 9.37]) compared with those in the placebo group (10.60 [95% CI, 10.27 to 10.93]) (between-group difference, -1.69 [95% CI, -2.07 to -1.31]). The length of time to symptom resolution was significantly lower for children in the antibiotic group (7.0 days) than in the placebo group (9.0 days) (P = .003). Children without nasopharyngeal pathogens detected did not benefit from antibiotic treatment as much as those with pathogens detected; the between-group difference in mean symptom scores was -0.88 (95% CI, -1.63 to -0.12) in those without pathogens detected compared with -1.95 (95% CI, -2.40 to -1.51) in those with pathogens detected. Efficacy did not differ significantly according to whether colored nasal discharge was present (the between-group difference was -1.62 [95% CI, -2.09 to -1.16] for colored nasal discharge vs -1.70 [95% CI, -2.38 to -1.03] for clear nasal discharge; P = .52 for the interaction between treatment group and the presence of colored nasal discharge).

CONCLUSIONS

In children with acute sinusitis, antibiotic treatment had minimal benefit for those without nasopharyngeal bacterial pathogens on presentation, and its effects did not depend on the color of nasal discharge. Testing for specific bacteria on presentation may represent a strategy to reduce antibiotic use in this condition.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02554383.

Topics: Child; Humans; Male; Acute Disease; Amoxicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Clavulanic Acid; Common Cold; Sinusitis; Female; Child, Preschool; Nasopharynx; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Haemophilus influenzae; Moraxella catarrhalis

PubMed: 37490085
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.10854

Authors: Chee Wei Tan, Maciej Piotr Chlebicki

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a collective term for infections that involve any part of the urinary tract. It is one of the most common infections in local primary care. The incidence of UTIs in adult males aged under 50 years is low, with adult women being 30 times more likely than men to develop a UTI. Appropriate classification of UTI into simple or complicated forms guides its management and the ORENUC classification can be used. Diagnosis of a UTI is based on a focused history, with appropriate investigations depending on individual risk factors. Simple uncomplicated cystitis responds very well to oral antibiotics, but complicated UTIs may require early imaging, and referral to the emergency department or hospitalisation to prevent urosepsis may be warranted. Escherichia coli remains the predominant uropathogen in acute community-acquired uncomplicated UTIs and amoxicillin-clavulanate is useful as a first-line antibiotic. Family physicians are capable of managing most UTIs if guided by appropriate history, investigations and appropriate antibiotics to achieve good outcomes and minimise antibiotic resistance.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Amoxicillin; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Clavulanic Acid; Cystitis; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Primary Health Care; Risk Factors; Urinary Tract Infections

PubMed: 27662890
DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2016153

Comparative Study

Authors: Sarah Fawaz, Mahboub Merzouk, Stephen Barton...

RATIONALE

With the discovery of new antibiotics diminishing, optimising the administration of existing antibiotics such as amoxicillin-clavulanic acid has become a necessity. At present, the optimal approach for enhancing the effectiveness of time-dependent antibiotics involves extending the time at which antibiotic concentrations are maintained above the minimal inhibitory concentration by prolonging the infusion time. This pharmacodynamic rationale cannot be applied to co-amoxiclav because of poor stability at room temperature. The aim of this study was to establish the shelf-life of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid prepared in separate containers to determine the feasibility of 24-hr continuous infusion therapy.

METHODS

A previously developed and validated stability-indicating HPLC method was used to establish the shelf-life of reconstituted amoxicillin and clavulanic acid when prepared in separate containers. Stability at clinical concentration was evaluated at three temperatures. To establish whether there were significant differences at the level of both active ingredients and temperature, results were analysed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to assess differences between the attained slopes of regression.

RESULTS

Data obtained indicated amoxicillin and clavulanic acid stability superior to that previously proposed making it suitable for continuous infusion therapy. Analysis of regression slopes via ANCOVA showed that temperature significantly affected amoxicillin and clavulanic acid stability. Amoxicillin retained 90% of its initial concentration for 80.3 hrs when stored at 4°C, 24.8 hrs at 25°C and 9 hrs when incubated at 37°C. Clavulanic acid retained 90% of its initial concentration for 152 hrs when stored at 4°C, 26 hrs at 25°C and 6.4 hrs when incubated at 37°C.

CONCLUSION

Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid are suitable for administration via continuous infusion when prepared, stored, and administered in separate containers. Results obtained from this study aid in ameliorating current dosing regimens to optimise antibiotic efficacy; however, more in-depth amoxicillin and clavulanic acid y-site compatibility studies are warranted.

Topics: Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drug Compounding; Drug Packaging; Drug Stability; Drug Storage; Feasibility Studies; Temperature; Time Factors

PubMed: 34584403
DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S310418

Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors: Jennifer Gregory, Bichtram Huynh, Brittany Tayler...

IMPORTANCE

Acute bacterial sinusitis is common, but currently recommended antibiotic treatment provides minimal benefit.

OBJECTIVE

To confirm the previous finding that high-dose amoxicillin plus clavulanate (with double the amount of amoxicillin) may be superior to standard-dose amoxicillin plus clavulanate in adults.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This double-blind, comparative-effectiveness randomized clinical trial was conducted from February 26, 2018, through May 10, 2020, at the academic primary care internal medicine and pediatrics practice of Albany Medical Center, located in Cohoes, New York. Participants included adults aged 18 years or older who were prescribed amoxicillin plus clavulanate for acute bacterial sinusitis diagnosed in accordance with the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines.

INTERVENTIONS

Amoxicillin 875 mg with clavulanate 125 mg plus either placebo (standard dose) or amoxicillin 875 mg (high dose) twice a day for 7 days.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary efficacy outcome was a global rating of "a lot better" or "no symptoms" at the end of 3 days of treatment using a Global Rating of Improvement scale, with outcomes ranging from 1 (a lot worse) to 6 (no symptoms). The primary adverse effect outcome was severe diarrhea at 3 or 10 days after the start of treatment.

RESULTS

At an unplanned interim analysis prompted by COVID-19 restrictions, 157 of a projected 240 participants had been enrolled (mean age, 48.5 [range, 18.7-84.0] years; 117 women [74.5%]), with 79 randomized to the standard dose and 78 to the high dose; 9 and 12, respectively, withdrew or were lost to follow-up before the assessment of the primary outcome. At day 3, 31 of 70 participants (44.3%) in the standard-dose group reported a global rating of "a lot better" or "no symptoms," as did 24 of 66 (36.4%) in the high-dose group, for a difference of -7.9% (95% CI, -24.4% to 8.5%; P = .35). The study was, therefore, stopped for futility. Diarrhea was common in both groups by day 3, with any diarrhea reported in 29 of 71 participants (40.8%) receiving the standard dose and 28 of 65 (43.1%) receiving the high dose and severe diarrhea reported in 5 of 71 (7.0%) and 5 of 65 (7.7%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The results of this randomized clinical trial suggest that adults treated for clinically diagnosed acute sinusitis did not appear to benefit from taking high-dose compared with standard-dose amoxicillin plus clavulanate.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03431337.

Topics: Acute Disease; Amoxicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Clavulanic Acid; Diarrhea; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Drug Monitoring; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sinusitis; Treatment Outcome; beta-Lactamase Inhibitors

PubMed: 33755168
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.2713

Clavulanic Acid Improves Memory Dysfunction and Anxiety Behaviors through Upregulating Glutamatergic Transporters in the Nucleus Accumbens of Mice Repeatedly Exposed to Khat Extract.

Authors: Amal O Arab, Fawaz Alasmari, Awatif B Albaker...

Khat () is an evergreen shrub whose buds and leaves give a state of delight and euphoria when chewed. Cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant that is among the active ingredients in khat, is able to downregulate glutamate transporter subtype I (GLT-1). Neurobehavioral dysfunctions such as altered locomotor activity, anorexia, and nociception have been observed in animals exposed to cathinone. Interestingly, treatment with a β-lactam antibiotic such as ceftriaxone, which upregulates GLT-1, normalizes cathinone-induced conditioned place preference, and alters repetitive movements in rats. However, little is known about the role of the glutamatergic system in memory dysfunction and anxiety-like behaviors in mice exposed to khat. We found here that clavulanic acid, a β-lactam-containing compound and GLT-1 upregulator, would modulate the neurobehavioral changes, including memory impairment and anxiety-like behaviors, associated with repeated exposure of mice to khat. Our data supported that clavulanic acid could improve memory impairment and anxiety-like behaviors through upregulating GLT-1 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), an effect abolished with a selective GLT-1 blocker. This upregulation was associated with restored glutamate/cystine antiporter expression in the NAc using a Western blotting assay. Cathine and cathinone were identified in khat extract using the gas chromatography technique. Our work provides preclinical insight into the efficacy of β-lactam-containing compounds for the attenuation of neurobehavioral changes induced by khat exposure.

Topics: Mice; Rats; Animals; Clavulanic Acid; Catha; Nucleus Accumbens; Anxiety; Memory Disorders; Amphetamine

PubMed: 37958641
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115657

Authors: Fleur M Keij, Gerdien A Tramper-Stranders, Birgit C P Koch...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Clavulanic acid is a commonly used β-lactam inhibitor in pediatrics for a variety of infections. Clear insight into its mode of action is lacking, however, and a target has not been identified. The dosing of clavulanic acid is currently based on that of the partner drug (amoxicillin or ticarcillin). Still, proper dosing of the compound is needed because clavulanic acid has been associated with adverse effects. In this systematic review, we aim to describe the current literature on the pharmacokinetics of clavulanic acid in the pediatric population METHODS: We performed a systematic search in MEDLINE, Embase.com, Cochrane Central, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. We included all published studies reporting pharmacokinetic data on clavulanic acid in neonates and children 0-18 years of age.

RESULTS

The search resulted in 18 original studies that met the inclusion criteria. In general, the variation in drug exposure was large, which can be partly explained by differences in disease state, route of administration, or age. Unfortunately, the studies' limited background information hampered in-depth assessment of the observed variability.

CONCLUSION

The pharmacokinetics of clavulanic acid in pediatric patients is highly variable, similar to reports in adults, but more pronounced. Significant knowledge gaps remain with regard to the population-specific explanation for this variability. Model-based pharmacokinetic studies that address both maturational and disease-specific changes in the pediatric population are therefore needed. Furthermore, additional pharmacodynamic studies are needed to define a clear target. The combined outcomes will eventually lead to pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of clavulanic acid and targeted exposure.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020137253.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Clavulanic Acid; Humans; Infant, Newborn

PubMed: 35355215
DOI: 10.1007/s40262-022-01116-3

Authors: Seung-Hyun Kim, Katy Saide, John Farrell...

UNLABELLED

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) frequently has a delayed onset with several human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes affecting susceptibility, indicating a potential role for the adaptive immune system in the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether drug-responsive T lymphocytes are detectable in patients who developed DILI with the combination, antimicrobial amoxicillin-clavulanate. Lymphocytes from 6 of 7 patients were found to proliferate and/or secrete interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) when cultured with amoxicillin and/or clavulanic acid. Amoxicillin (n = 105) and clavulanic acid (n = 16) responsive CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell clones expressing CCR, chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 4, CCR9, and chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 3 were generated from patients with and without HLA risk alleles; no cross-reactivity was observed between the two drug antigens. Amoxicillin clones were found to secrete a heterogeneous panel of mediators, including IFN-γ, interleukin-22 and cytolytic molecules. In contrast, cytokine secretion by the clavulanic acid clones was more restricted. CD4(+) and CD8(+) clones were major histocompatability complex class II and I restricted, respectively, with the drug antigen being presented to CD4(+) clones in the context of HLA-DR molecules. Several pieces of evidence indicate that the clones were activated by a hapten mechanism: First, professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) were required for optimal activation; second, pulsing APCs for 4-16 hours activated the clones; and third, inhibition of processing abrogated the proliferative response and cytokine release.

CONCLUSION

Both amoxicillin- and clavulanic acid-specific T cells participate in the liver injury that develops in certain patients exposed to amoxicillin-clavulanate.

Topics: Aged; Amoxicillin; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Case-Control Studies; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Clavulanic Acid; Clone Cells; Female; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Middle Aged; Reference Values; Sampling Studies

PubMed: 25998949
DOI: 10.1002/hep.27912

Meta-Analysis Review

Authors: M-I Arteagoitia, L Barbier, J Santamaría...

BACKGROUND

Prophylactic use of amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, although controversial, is common in routine clinical practice in third molar surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Our objective was to assess the efficacy of prophylactic amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid in reducing the incidence of dry socket and/or infection after third molar extraction. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis consulting electronic databases and references in retrieved articles. We included double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials published up to June 2015 investigating the efficacy of amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid on the incidence of the aforementioned conditions after third molar extraction. Relative risks (RRs) were estimated with a generic inverse-variance approach and a random effect model using Stata/IC 13 and Review Manager Version 5.2. Stratified analysis was performed by antibiotic type.

RESULTS

We included 10 papers in the qualitative review and in the quantitative synthesis (1997 extractions: 1072 in experimental groups and 925 in controls, with 27 and 74 events of dry socket and/or infection, respectively). The overall RR was 0.350 (p<0.001; 95% CI 0.214 to 0.574). We found no evidence of heterogeneity (I2=0%, p=0.470). The number needed to treat was 18 (95% CI 13 to 29). Five studies reported adverse reactions (RR=1.188, 95% CI 0.658 to 2.146, p =0.567). The RRs were 0.563 for amoxicillin (95% CI 0.295 to 1.08, p=0.082) and 0.215 for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (95% CI 0.117 to 0.395, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic use of amoxicillin does not significantly reduce the risk of infection and/or dry socket after third molar extraction. With amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, the risk decreases significantly. Nevertheless, considering the number needed to treat, low prevalence of infection, potential adverse reactions to antibiotics and lack of serious complications in placebo groups, the routine prescription of amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid is not justified.

Topics: Amoxicillin; Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Double-Blind Method; Dry Socket; Humans; Infection Control; Molar, Third; Tooth Exfoliation

PubMed: 26946211
DOI: 10.4317/medoral.21139