Clavomax Mechanism of Action

Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Clavomax is a registered product containing amoxicillin, a bactericidal broad spectrum penicillin, and potassium clavulanate, a progressive and irreversible inhibitor of β-lactamase enzymes.
The presence of potassium clavulanate protects amoxicillin from destruction and subsequent loss of antibacterial activity by the β-lactamase enzymes produced by many Gram-positive bacteria. The spectrum of amoxicillin is thus widened to include organisms normally resistant by virtue of their ability to produce β-lactamase.
Clavomax will not only eliminate primary pathogens but also will not be inactivated by non pathogenic β-lactamase producing organisms at the site of infection.
Pharmacokinetics: The pharmacokinetics of the two components of Clavomax are closely matched. Peak serum levels of both occur about 1 hour after oral administration. Absorption of Clavomax is optimized at start of a meal. Doubling the dosage of Clavomax approximately doubles the serum level achieved. Both clavulanate and amoxicillin have low levels of serum binding; about 70% remains free in serum.
Bacteriology: Clavomax is bactericidal to a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including many clinically important β-lactamase producing penicillin resistant organisms both in the hospital and general practice environment, including: Gram-Positive: Aerobes: Enterococcus faecalis*, Enterococcus faecium*, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus viridans, Staphylococcus aureus*, Coagulase negative staphylococci* (including Staphylococcus epidermis*), Corynebacterium species, Bacillus anthracis*, Listeria monocytogenes.
Anaerobes: Clostridium species, Peptococcus species, Peptostreptococcus.
Gram-Negative: Aerobes: Haemophilus influenzae*, Moraxella catarrhalis* (Branhamella catarrhalis), Escherichia coli*, Proteus mirabilis*, Proteus vulgaris*, Klebsiella species*, Salmonella species*, Shigella species*, Bordetella pertussis, Brucella species, Neisseria gonorrhoeae*, Neisseria meningitidis*, Vibrio cholerae, Pasteurella multocida.
Anaerobes: Bacteroides species* including B. fragilis.
* Some members of these species of bacteria produce beta-lactamase, rendering them insensitive to amoxicillin alone.