Talk:Beta-lactam
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"Augmentin is made of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, both of which are beta-lactam antibiotics"
not true. clavulanic acid is used only as a beta lactamase inhibitor. On its own it is ineffective as an antibiotic. ~HolyMongoose
Actually - HolyMongoose, you are incorrect. Clavulanic acid is a very poor antibiotic that is ineffective at usable concentrations against most bacteria. However, it does have activity against some species, including some Acinetobacter species against which it is occasionally used intentionally (typically by giving 'Augmentin', because it is not normally available on its own). The fact that it inhibits beta lactamase activity through competitive binding is a second / additional feature which is primarily how this drug is exploited - but it does not mean that it ceases to technically be an antibiotic. ~ Nigel Saunders, University of Oxford, UK. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.67.82.28 (talk) 13:45, 19 September 2007 (UTC)
[edit] The clavulanic acid picture
Compared to the other molecular structures, clavulanic acid is viewed from the "other side". It would probably be more instructive to show a drawing where it has been rotated 180 degrees along the x axis, but maybe it is conventional to present it the way it is now? //130.238.41.140 (talk) 16:51, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
