Amoxycillin/Clavulanic Acid: a Review of its Efficacy in over 38,500 Patients from 1979 to 1992

Abstract

A review of the published literature detailing the clinical use of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid spanning the period 1979 to 1992 was undertaken to assess the clinical efficacy of the product and to determine whether any changes had occurred during this time. In the 415 publications meeting the selection criteria a total of over 38,500 patients were treated with amoxycillin/clavulanic acid. Analysis of the data confirms the efficacy of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid over a wide range of clinical indications and annual and triennial groupings of publications suggests that there has been little change in the clinical effectiveness of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid. Clinical efficacy rates (cure or improved) with amoxycillin/clavulanic acid were 88% and 92% in comparative and uncontrolled trials, respectively. Gastro-intestinal side effects are the most common adverse event but have been relatively infrequent. Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid should continue to be a useful antibiotic for upper and lower respiratory tract infections, skin structure infections, dental, head and neck infections, and selected urinary tract infections.

Roxithromycin 150 mg b.i.d. versus amoxycillin 500 mg/clavulanic acid 125 mg t.i.d. for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections in general practice

“…It is of particular interest to note that for H. influenzae-infected patients with LRTI treated with roxithromycin, a clinical response rate (IT/') of 85% was observed. These results compare favourably to that reported per protocol for cases of H. influenzae LRTI treated with amoxycillin/clavulanic acid in a recent overview of clinical studies with this antibiotic [21]. Due to the small number of identified pathogens in patients who had received amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, the imbalance in the distribution of M. pneumoniae and other atypical organisms and the small number of pneumonia cases treated with amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, the efficacy results for this antibiotic are less secure than for roxithromycin.…”

Characteristics of murine model of genital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and effects of therapy with tetracyclines, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, or azithromycin

“…Although reservations over the use of penicillins for chlamydial infection because of their incomplete bactericidal effect exist, amoxicillin has proven to be a useful alternative to standard treatment of chlamydial infection in pregnancy (14), in cervicitis (18), and in male urethritis (8). The established broad spectrum of activity of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (16) means that it has potential in the treatment of polymicrobial genital infections involving ,-lactamase-producing bacteria.…”

Allergy to Antibiotics in Children: Who Is to Blame and What to Do?

“…Most patients with penicillin allergy react in the same way to polysynthetic penicillins. Reactions to aminopenicillins are peculiar due to high frequency of development (5-9%) of maculopapular (morbiliform) eruptions [59]. Allergy to cephalosporins most often manifests itself in the form of eosinophilia (3-8%), maculopapular eruptions (1-3%), drug fever (2%) and positive Coombs test (1-2%).…”