Cefuroxime is the 2nd generation cephalosporin group of broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotic. 

Clavulanic acid is naturally occurring potent inhibitor of β-lactamase. It is a “suicidal inhibitor” of β-lactamases produced by a wide range of Gram positive and Gram negative micro-organisms.

β-lactamase mediated resistance is the most common mechanism which causes the β-lactam antibiotics such as cephalosporin like Cefuroxime ineffective against bacteria including Escherichia coli.

A study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of cefuroxime with and without a β-lactamase inhibitor named clavulanic acid, against E. coli.

In the study it was found that the synergistic antibacterial effect of the combination of cefuroxime and clavulanic acid was far more than the cefuroxime alone against Escherichia coli.

What is E. coli bacteria and what are the infections caused by this?

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a gram negative bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals.

Most strains of E. coli are harmless. Some strains of E-coli however, most frequent causes of many common bacterial infections, including urinary tract infection (UTI), traveler's diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, food poisoning, cholecystitis, bacteremia, cholangitis, neonatal meningitis and pneumonia.

Transmission: It is transmitted to humans primarily through consumption of contaminated foods, such as raw or undercooked ground meat products, raw milk, and contaminated raw vegetables, contaminated water and contaminated hands.

In order to avoid treatment failure, culture and susceptibility tests should be carried out on infecting pathogens before an antibiotic is selected for treatment. This would discourage the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and reduce selective pressure that could result in the spread of virulent and resistant uropathogenic E. coli in the environment.

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