Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid: a review of its efficacy in over 38,500 patients from 1979 to 1992.

A review of the published literature detailing the clinical use of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid spanning the period 1979 to 1992 was undertaken to assess the clinical efficacy of the product and to determine whether any changes had occurred during this time. In the 415 publications meeting the selection criteria a total of over 38,500 patients were treated with amoxycillin/clavulanic acid. Analysis of the data confirms the efficacy of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid over a wide range of clinical indications and annual and triennial groupings of publications suggests that there has been little change in the clinical effectiveness of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid. Clinical efficacy rates (cure or improved) with amoxycillin/clavulanic acid were 88% and 92% in comparative and uncontrolled trials, respectively. Gastro-intestinal side effects are the most common adverse event but have been relatively infrequent. Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid should continue to be a useful antibiotic for upper and lower respiratory tract infections, skin structure infections, dental, head and neck infections, and selected urinary tract infections.