Amoxicillin is the generic name for a penicillin-like antibiotic that's widely prescribed for bacterial infections of many body systems. Physicians can prescribe amoxicillin by itself, or they may choose a combination drug such as amoxicillin and clavulanate. Amoxicillin works well against certain types of staphylococcal, or staph, infections, notes DailyMed.
Identification
Some staphylococcal bacteria produce a substance called beta-lactamase that makes antibiotics less effective. Amoxicillin is a drug of choice for staph infections caused by bacteria that are beta-lactamase-negative. Amoxicillin/clavulanate, on the other hand, works well against beta-lactamase-producing staph infections, according to DailyMed. The clavulanate in the combined drug inhibits the effect of the beta-lactamase, allowing the amoxicillin to do its job.
Types
Amoxicillin by itself works well against Staphylococcus species that don't produce beta-lactamase, such as alpha- and beta-hemolytic strains of Staph aureus. Physicians may prescribe a combination drug like amoxicillin and clavulanate for either beta-lactamase-producing or beta-lactamase-negative strains of staph, says DailyMed. However, neither amoxicillin nor amoxicillin/clavulanate is effective against methicillin-resistant staph aureus, MRSA, one of the most prevalent staphylococcal organisms in hospital and in the community, says DailyMed.
Sites
Amoxicillin is often the drug of choice for staph infections of the ear, throat and nose, says Rx List. Doctors also order amoxicillin for staph infections of the skin and skin structures, or for lower respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. For patients with skin infections from beta-lactamase-producing staph, doctors will often order amoxicillin/clavulanate.
Dosage
Recommended dosages for amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanate vary with age and the type of infection. For example, adults typically take 250 to 500 mg of amoxicillin three times a day, or 500 to 875 mg twice a day for 7 to 10 days, for staph infections of the skin, says Drugs.com. Babies from 4 weeks to 3 months of age need 20 to 30 mg of amoxicillin per day for every kg of body weight. From 4 months through 12 years of age, youngsters require 20 to 50 mg/kg/day of amoxicillin, given in two or three divided doses for 7 to 10 days.
Forms
Doctors can prescribe amoxicillin in a variety of formulations that work for almost everyone with a known or suspected staph infection. Infants and toddlers can take oral suspensions, older children can be given either chewable or regular tablets and those who can safely swallow pills may choose either tablets or capsules. (See Reference 3, tab 2)
