Augmentin (Amoxicillin-Clavulanate)
Widespread use of antibiotics promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance. Smart use of antibiotics is the key to controlling its spread - A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

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When should you prescribe amoxicillin clavulanate?
Most infections can be successfully treated with other types of antibiotics and amoxicillin clavulanate needs to be reserved for specific indications when it is really needed. The most common first-line indications for amoxicillin clavulanate are for human or animal bites or clenched fist injuries and for diabetic foot infections. Common secondline indications (after treatment failure with a narrow spectrum antibiotic) include mild acute pyelonephritis and acute sinusitis.
Resources
High-Dose Amoxicillin with Clavulanate for the Treatment of Acute Otitis Media in Children
Amoxicillin with or without β-lactamase inhibitor is the mainstream choice in the treatment of AOM, but information on dosage comparisons of antibiotics and research on true clinical outcome is limited.
High-Dose Amoxicillin/Clavulanate No Better than Standard Dose for Acute Sinusitis in Adults
This study found no significant difference between the standard-dose and high-dose regimens of amoxicillin/clavulanate for treating acute sinusitis in adults. It is important to note that both doses are minimally superior to placebo.
Hold Up On Some of Those Antibiotic Combinations
The authors note that combinations of macrolides or doxycycline with the commonly used amoxicillin/clavulanate pair (sold as Augmenin) are prescribed for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, and that their work indicates that this has a good chance of making the overall antibiotic efficacy worse, not better. W
What are the pros and cons of Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate)?
The risk of diarrhea is higher with Augmentin compared to amoxicillin alone.
When should you prescribe amoxicillin clavulanate?
Amoxicillin clavulanate is an important and effective broad spectrum antibiotic that is used widely in general practice. The problem is not that it does not work, but rather the more it is used, the higher the likelihood that bacteria will become resistant to this drug.
Augmentin
The usual adult dose is one 500-mg tablet of AUGMENTIN every 12 hours or one 250-mg tablet of AUGMENTIN every 8 hours. For more severe infections and infections of the respiratory tract, the dose should be one 875-mg tablet of AUGMENTIN every 12 hours or one 500-mg tablet of AUGMENTIN every 8 hours. Adults who have difficulty swallowing may be given the 125 mg/5 mL or 250 mg/5 mL suspension in place of the 500-mg tablet. The 200 mg/5 mL suspension or the 400 mg/5 mL suspension may be used in place of the 875-mg tablet.
USAntibiotics
Amoxicillin is the #1 prescribed antibiotic in the U.S. and among the top 20 medicines prescribed annually. And today, we’re the largest finished dosage form manufacturing facility for penicillin-class beta-lactam antibiotics—and the only U.S. FDA approved production site for Amoxil® and Augmentin® oral dose testing, manufacturing and packaging. At full capacity, we can produce billions of doses of American-made antibiotics on an annual basis.
MedlinePlus
The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, including infections of the ears, lungs, sinus, skin, and urinary tract. Amoxicillin is in a class of medications called penicillin-like antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. Clavulanic acid is in a class of medications called beta-lactamase inhibitors. It works by preventing bacteria from destroying amoxicillin.
StatPearls
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.

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