What is the Difference Between Potassium Clavulanate and Clavulanic Acid?

The key difference between potassium clavulanate and clavulanic acid is that potassium clavulanate is a medication used to treat bacterial infections, while clavulanic acid is a beta-lactam drug. Potassium clavulanate is a derivative of clavulanic acid. Both potassium clavulanate and clavulanic acid are used in combination with penicillin-group antibiotics to overcome antibiotic resistance in bacteria that secrete beta-lactamase, which otherwise inactivates most penicillins.

In summary:

• Potassium Clavulanate: A medication used to treat bacterial infections by blocking the enzyme beta-lactamase, which is produced by bacteria to inactivate antibiotics. It is a derivative of clavulanic acid.
• Clavulanic Acid: A beta-lactam drug that functions as a mechanism-based beta-lactamase inhibitor. It is not effective by itself as an antibiotic, but when combined with penicillin-group antibiotics, it can overcome antibiotic resistance in bacteria that secrete beta-lactamase.

Comparative Table: Potassium Clavulanate vs Clavulanic Acid

Potassium clavulanate and clavulanic acid are both beta-lactamase inhibitors used in combination with penicillin-type antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. The key difference between the two is that potassium clavulanate is a derivative of clavulanic acid. Here is a comparison table of the two:

Both potassium clavulanate and clavulanic acid are used in combination with penicillin-type antibiotics to treat various bacterial infections. They work by blocking the enzyme beta-lactamase, which is produced by bacteria to inactivate antibiotics. This enhances the effectiveness of the antibiotics and helps reduce resistance.