Invited narrative review Oral amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate: properties, indications, and usage Angela Huttner1*, Julia Bielicki2,3, Michelle N. Clements4, Niels Frimodt-Møller5, Anouk E. Muller6, 7, Jean-Pierre Paccaud8, Johan W. Mouton7 1 Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland 2 University of Basel Children's Hospital, Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Basel, Switzerland 3 Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St. George’s University of London, London, UK 4 MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, UCL, London, UK 5 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark 6 Department of Medical Microbiology, Haaglanden Medical Centre, The Hague, The Netherlands 7 Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands 8 Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, Geneva, Switzerland *Corresponding author Geneva University Hospitals Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4 Geneva, Switzerland 1205 Tel. +41 79 553 3396 Email:
[email protected] Word count: 2517 Key words: oral amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, indications, pharmacokinetics, appropriate therapy, stewardship Abstract Background: Amoxicillin has been in use since the 1970s; it is the most widely used penicillin both alone and in combination with the beta-lactamase clavulanic acid. Objectives: In this narrative review, we re-examine the properties of oral amoxicillin and clavulanic acid and provide guidance on their use, with emphasis on the preferred use of amoxicillin alone. Sources: Published medical literature (MEDLINE database via Pubmed) Content: While amoxicillin and clavulanic acid have similar half-lives, clavulanic acid is more protein- bound and even less heat-stable than amoxicillin, with primarily hepatic metabolism. It is also more strongly associated with gastrointestinal side effects, including Clostridium difficile infection, and thus, in oral combination formulations, limits the maximum daily dose of amoxicillin that can be given.