Wiktionary
clavulanic acid
n. (context medicine English) An inhibitor of enzymatic hydrolysis that is added to penicillin antibiotics
Wikipedia
Clavulanic acid
Clavulanic acid ( rINN) is a β-lactam drug that functions as a mechanism-based β-Lactamase inhibitor. While not effective by itself as an antibiotic, when combined with penicillin-group antibiotics, it can overcome antibiotic resistance in bacteria that secrete β-lactamase, which otherwise inactivates most penicillins.
In its most common form, the potassium salt potassium clavulanate is combined with:
- amoxicillin ( co-amoxiclav, trade names Augmentin, Tyclav (Beximco), Synulox [ veterinary], and others) or
- ticarcillin ( co-ticarclav, trade name Timentin).
Clavulanic acid is an example of a clavam.