Amoxicillin antibiotic drug,molecular model. This is a moderate-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic. These drugs work by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell walls,mainly in Gram-positive bacteria. Vulnerable bacteria include Streptococcus and Staphylococcus,and some Gram- negative bacteria such as Neisseria and Escherichia coli. Some strains of previously- susceptible bacteria have developed resistance to amoxicillin,as they produce the enzyme beta- lactamase,which destroys the drug. Hence,it is usually taken with clavulanic acid,which blocks this enzyme,a preparation called co-amoxiclav. Atoms are colour-coded: carbon (green),nitrogen (blue),oxygen (pink),sulphur (orange) and hydrogen (white) |