In order to remember all the different medications in my ER rotation, Blake and I started to create one liner jingles. This is one of my favorites – “If your tooth abscess is a killin’, use amoxicillin!”

Amoxicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic that works by inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis. Basically, the antiiotic stops the bacteria from building its protective cell wallbarrier and the bacteria is unable to divide and multiply. However, Some bacteria are equipped with a new weapon – beta lactamase which helps it survive an attack of antibiotics. To overcome this defense, amoxicillin is often combined with clavulanic acid, a beta lactamase inhibitor.