Note that although amoxicillin can kill many of the same bacteria as penicillin, it is less effective than penicillin against Streptococcus pneumococcus, the bacteria commonly associated with meningitis and systemic bacteremia.
The side effects of amoxicillin tend to be relatively mild, which is another reason it's often prescribed for kids. The most common ones include rash, vaginal itching, and a dark or "hairy tongue. As with penicillin, there is a risk of an allergic reaction to amoxicillin in those predisposed to it.
These can be life-threatening. It's vital a healthcare provider take a medical history before prescribing amoxicillin to determine if a patient has a known history of allergy to antibiotics.
Augmentin is amoxicillin combined with a beta-lactamase inhibitor called clavulanate, an ingredient that blocks the enzymes that contribute to antibiotic resistance. The addition of a beta-lactamase blocker to amoxicillin allows Augmentin to overcome resistance to harder-to-treat bacteria, broadening the spectrum of infections it can treat. It is for this reason that Augmentin is referred to as a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Augmentin can treat the same bacteria as amoxicillin, but also is effective against certain harder-to-treat infections, including:. It should be noted there are a few infections for which amoxicillin and Augmentin are prescribed equally:.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. The most common side effect of Augmentin is diarrhea. Some people may also experience nausea, vomiting, yeast infections, and rash. If you have an infection and don't necessarily know which bacteria is causing it, it may seem to make sense to use an antibiotic that would kill the most bugs.
However, doing that can cause major problems. Antibiotics used indiscriminately may destroy "good" bacteria along with "bad," thereby altering the body's natural flora and allowing even worse bacteria to proliferate. Another, even more pressing concern is that using broad-spectrum antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance. When this happens, a few mutated bacteria may survive, some of which may be naturally resistant to the antibiotic you were taking.
Because you didn't "hit the infection hard enough," these survivors now have the opportunity to multiply and become the dominant strain. As such, the next time you develop an infection, the antibiotic will not work anywhere near as well. If this happens with broad-spectrum antibiotic like Augmentin, you will be at greater risk of having multiple types of drug resistance. With a "narrow-spectrum" antibiotic like amoxicillin, the consequence may be less severe.
Whether you're prescribed amoxicillin, Augmentin, or another antibiotic, it's not so much the "strength" of the drug you should be concerned about; it's all about the safety, efficacy, and appropriateness of treatment. People are sometimes surprised, and even taken aback, when they are given amoxicillin for a serious infection such as pneumonia.
But in many cases that may be all that is needed to resolve the infection. If you don't believe that the antibiotic being prescribed is "strong enough," speak with your healthcare provider. This is especially true if you have a new healthcare provider or don't see a healthcare provider all that often.
If you've had recurrent infections in the past for which amoxicillin hasn't helped, let the healthcare provider know. The more your healthcare provider knows about your previous antibiotic use, the better choices he or she can make.
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J Korean Med Sci. Amoxicillin-potassium clavulanate, a beta-lactamase-resistant antibiotic combination. Clin Pharm. Thomas VM, Thomas-eapen N. Korean J Fam Med. Millard G. Further experience with augmentin in the treatment of skin infections.
Scott Med J. Blaser M. Antibiotic overuse: Stop the killing of beneficial bacteria. Amoxil , Moxatag amoxicillin dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. As most cases of uncomplicated cellulitis are caused by Strep, they are still best treated with a penicillin or cephalosporin e.
These drugs are also safer than clindamycin, for widespread use. While this study adds important information comparing two commonly used drugs for treating skin infection, it should not result in a change in current antibiotic treatment recommendations. The study was well-done, in that it was randomized and double-blinded, meaning that neither the patient nor the investigator knew which treatment the patient was receiving.
Of note, is that the patients were drawn from areas with a high endemic rate of methicillin-resistant Staph aureus MRSA infections. Treatment was with either Clindamycin mg. All patients were treated for ten days. Half of the patients had cellulitis, an infection of the skin and soft tissue.
Abscesses occurred in Cultures could be obtained from the abscesses and S. While not stated explicitly, the authors imply that either clindamycin or TMP-SMX are perhaps the best choices for uncomplicated cellulitis, as this covers MRSA and worked well overall.
First, nonpurulent cellulitis, meaning one where there is no abscess or drainage to culture , is most commonly caused by Streptococci, not Staph. One clinically recognizable type of cellulitis is erysipelas. This is distinctive, with a sharply demarcated border and skin that is thickened indurated and often bright red.
This is caused by Strep and is generally treated with penicillin. With fewer physicians choosing Infectious Diseases as a specialty, I wonder how many people will even recognize this in the future. Another randomized, double-blind trial compared cephalexin to that plus TMP-SMX for treating uncomplicated cellulitis. In my experience, which is more with hospitalized patients with cellulitis, who are more ill than those in this study, many patients who receive TMP-SMX or Vancomycin for cellulitis fail therapy.
Beta-lactams penicillin or cefazolin are the drug class of choice for cellulitis. Clindamyin is used for septic patients for its anti-toxin effect.
Certainly, I have seen a need for higher doses in my obese patients and even in the young, muscular, football player types. I prefer penicillins or Keflex types of antibiotics empirically for two other reasons. One is that there appear to be fewer serious side effects than with clindamycin, which can cause C. It can also cause anemia, either by bone marrow suppression, or by hemolysis in African-Americans, Asians, and Latinos, because of a glucosephosphate dehydrogenase G6PD deficiency.
In the U. Another concern is whether more widespread use of clindamycin will promote resistance needlessly, at a time when we have limited antibiotic options.
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