Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid = Co-amoxiclav injectable
Injectable co-amoxiclav guidance for cellulitis, necrotizing infections, and severe postpartum upper genital tract infection.
Therapeutic action
Penicillin antibacterial, combined with a beta-lactamase inhibitor. The addition of clavulanic acid to amoxicillin extends its spectrum of activity to cover beta-lactamase producing Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms, including some Gram-negative anaerobes.
Indications
- Erysipelas and cellulitis.
- Necrotizing infections of the skin and soft tissues, in combination with clindamycin.
- Severe postpartum upper genital tract infection, in combination with gentamicin.
Forms and strengths, route of administration
- Powder for injection, in 1 g amoxicillin/200 mg clavulanic acid vial.
- Dissolve in 20 ml water for injection or 0.9% sodium chloride for slow IV injection over 3 minutes or IV infusion over 30 minutes.
- Do not dilute in glucose.
Dose (expressed in amoxicillin)
Erysipelas, cellulitis
- Child under 3 months: 30 mg/kg every 12 hours.
- Child 3 months and over: 20 to 30 mg/kg every 8 hours, maximum 3 g daily.
- Adult: 1 g every 8 hours.
Necrotizing infections
- Child under 3 months: 50 mg/kg every 12 hours.
- Child 3 months and over and under 40 kg: 50 mg/kg every 8 hours, maximum 6 g daily.
- Child 40 kg and over and adult: 2 g every 8 hours.
Upper genital tract infection
For administration by IV infusion, dilute each dose in 5 ml/kg of 0.9% sodium chloride in children less than 20 kg and in a bag of 100 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride in children 20 kg and over and in adults.
- Adult: 1 g every 8 hours.
Duration
Change to oral treatment as soon as possible.
- Erysipelas, cellulitis: 7 to 10 days.
- Necrotizing infections: 14 days.
- Upper genital tract infection: depending on clinical response.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Once reconstituted, the solution must be used immediately; discard any unused open vial.
- Do not administer to penicillin-allergic patients, patients with history of hepatic disorders during previous treatment with co-amoxiclav, or patients with infectious mononucleosis.
- Administer with caution to patients allergic to cephalosporins, and to patients with hepatic impairment or severe renal impairment.
- May cause diarrhoea, hepatic disorders, and allergic reactions sometimes severe.
- Do not combine with methotrexate.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
- Do not mix with other drugs in the same syringe or infusion bag.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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