Clavulanic acid 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 preparations, potassium clavulanate (clavulanic acid as a salt of potassium) is combined with:
- amoxicillin (co-amoxiclav, trade names Augmentin, Tyclav, Clavamox (veterinary), Synulox (veterinary), and others)
- ticarcillin (co-ticarclav, trade name Timentin)
