clavulanic acid

[(Science: chemical) clavulanic acid (c8h9o5n) and its salts and esters. The acid is a suicide inhibitor of bacterial beta-lactamase enzymes from streptomyces clavuligerus. Administered alone, it has only weak antibacterial activity against most organisms, but given in combination with beta-lactam antibiotics prevents antibiotic inactivation by microbial lactamase. Pharmacological action: antibiotics, lactam, enzyme inhibitors. chemical name: 4-Oxa-1-azabicyclo(3.2.0)heptane-2-carboxylic acid, 3-(2-hydroxyethylidene)-7-oxo-, (2R-(2alpha,3Z,5alpha))

[1. A β-lactam structurally related to the penicillins that inactivate β-lactamase enzymes in penicillin-resistant organisms; usually used in combination with penicillins to enhance and broaden the spectrum of the penicillins.