Antibacterial Activity of Amoxycillin/Clavulanic Acid(Augmentin) in Vitro

Augmentin(Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid)의 시험관내 항균효과

Strains of bacteria resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics have been increasing in number and are becoming troublesome in clinical medicine. The in vitro antibacterial activity of augmentin, a combination drug consisting of two parts amoxycillin to one part clavulanic acid, a potent beta-lactamase inhibitor, and their minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined by an agar dilution technique against ampicillin-resistant clinical isolates in Korea. Of the 226 strains tested, 140 strains(62%) were resistant to ampicillin. Among the 140 ampicillin-resistant strains, all Salmonella spp. Proteus spp. the majority of S. aureus and Shigella spp. were sensitive to augmentin. Ps. aeruginosa remained 100% resistant and there has been a considerable decline in resistant strains in E. coli and K. pneumoniae although a significant percentage of strains showed intermediate sensitivity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of augmentin were ranged in $8{\mu}g/ml$ to $32{\mu}g/ml$ in most bacteria and all S. aureus were inhibited by $8{\mu}g/ml$. In our microbiological studies we have shown that augmentin is active against ampicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococci and Gram-negative bacteria. In this hospital there would appear to be a significant number of strains of E. coli and K. pneumoniae showing intermediate resistance to augmentin. Most of these strains should be susceptible to augmentin given by mouth or by the intravenous route depending on the concentrations of both amoxycillin and clavulanic acid obtainable in the various tissues.