CLAVULANIC ACID IS A BETA LACTUM STRUCTURALLY RELATED TO PENICILLINS,WHICH POSSESSES THE ABILITY TO INACTIVATE A WIDE RANGE OF BETA-LACTAMASE BY BLOCKING THE ACTIVE SITES OF THESE ENZYMES. CLAVULANIC ACID IS PARTICULARLY ACTIVE AGAINST PLASMID MEDIATED BETA-LACTAMASES FREQUENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSFERRED DRUG RESISTANCE TO PENICILLINS & CEPHALOSPORINS. THE FORMULATION OF AMOXICILLIN WITH CLAVULANIC ACID PROTECTS AMOXYCILIN FROM DEGRADATION BY BETA-LACTAMASE ENZYMES AND EFFECTIVELY EXTENDS THE ANTIBIOTIC SPECTRUM OF AMOXYCILLIN TO INCLUDE MANY BACTERIA RESISTANT TO AMOXYCILLIN AND OTHER BETA-LACTAM ANTIBIOTICS.