Pharmacokinetic study of a paediatric formulation of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid in children

Summary

A combination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid 4:1 was administered to 35 children (aged 2 to 10 years) with infections. The combination was administered orally as a suspension, every 8 h for 5 to 7 days. Sixteen children (aged 2 to 5 years), received 125 mg amoxycillin and 31.25 mg clavulanic acid, and 19 (6 to 10 years) received 250 mg amoxycillin and 62.5 mg clavulanic acid per dose. Following the first dose serum concentrations of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid were determined by microbiological assay. In the younger group receiving the lower dosage (mean: amoxycillin 9.11 mg/kg and clavulanic acid 2.34 mg/kg), the mean peak concentration of amoxycillin was 3.5 mg/l and of clavulanic acid 1.2 mg/l, occurring 1.32 h and 1.39 h, respectively, after administration. In the older group receiving the higher dosage (mean: amoxycillin 12.35 mg/kg and clavulanic acid 3.14 mg/kg) the mean peak serum level of amoxycillin was 4.0 mg/l and of clavulanic acid 1.3 mg/l, occurring 1.43 h and 1.23 h, respectively, after administration. The higher dose per kilogram body weight resulted in a higher peak serum concentration both of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid. The formulation was well tolerated by all the children and no serious side-effects were recorded. Treatment was considered clinically effective in all cases.