Health Vidya

Amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium is indicated in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated organisms in the conditions listed below: Lower Respiratory Tract Infections - caused by β-lactamase-producing strains of H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. Otitis Media - caused by β-lactamase-producing strains of H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. Sinusitis - caused by β-lactamase-producing strains of H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. Skin and Skin Structure Infections - caused by β-lactamase-producing strains of S. aureus, E. coli and Klebsiella spp. Urinary Tract Infections - caused by β-lactamase-producing strains of E. coli, Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter spp. While amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium is indicated only for the conditions listed above, infections caused by ampicillin-susceptible organisms are also amenable to treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium treatment due to its amoxicillin content, therefore, mixed infections caused by ampicillin-susceptible organisms and β-lactamase-producing organisms susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium should not require the addition of another antibiotic. Because amoxicillin has greater in vitro activity against S. pneumoniae than does ampicillin or penicillin, the majority of S. pneumoniae strains with intermediate susceptibility to ampicillin or penicillin are fully susceptible to amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium. (See Microbiology.) To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium and other antibacterial drugs, amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium should be used only to treat or prevent infections, that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria.When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy. Bacteriological studies, to determine the causative organisms and their susceptibility to amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium, should be performed together with any indicated surgical procedures.