Absorption, metabolism and excretion studies on clavulanic acid in the rat and dog.

At least one third of an oral dose of sodium [G-14C]clavulanate was absorbed by rat and dog. Excretion of radioactivity was rapid in both species. In addition to urinary and faecal excretion of radioactivity, appreciable elimination of 14CO2 occurred, particularly in the rat. This was produced in part by the action of the gut microflora. In the rat, only a small proportion of the radioactive dose was secreted in the bile. The major metabolite in urine was identified as 1-amino-4-hydroxybutan-2-one. Clavulanic acid was also a major component in urine.