Amoxicillin is similar to ampicillin in its bactericidal action against susceptible organisms during the stage of active multiplication. It acts through the inhibition of biosynthesis of cell wall mucopeptide. Amoxicillin has been shown to be active against most strains of the following microorganisms, both in vitro and in clinical infections as described in the INDICATIONS AND USAGE section.
Aerobic Gram-Positive Microorganisms:
Enterococcus faecalis
Staphylococcus spp. † (β-lactamase-negative strains only)
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus spp. (α- and β-hemolytic strains only)
†Staphylococci which are susceptible to amoxicillin but resistant to methicillin/oxacillin should be considered as resistant to amoxicillin.
Aerobic Gram-Negative Microorganisms:
Escherichia coli (β-lactamase-negative strains only)
Haemophilus influenzae (β-lactamase-negative strains only)
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (β-lactamase -negative strains only)
Proteus mirabilis (β-lactamase -negative strains only)
Helicobacter:
Helicobacter pylori
Susceptibility tests: Dilution Techniques: Quantitative methods ore used to determine antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). These MICs provide estimates of the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobial compounds. The MICs should be determined using a standardized procedure. Standardized procedures are based on a dilution methodl (broth or agar) or equivalent with standardized inoculum concentrations and standardized concentrations of ampicillin powder. Ampicillin is sometimes used to predict susceptibility of S. pneumoniae to amoxicillin; however, some intermediate strains have been shown to be susceptible to amoxicillin. Therefore, S. pneumoniae susceptibility should be tested using amoxicillin powder. The MIC values should be interpreted according to the following criteria:
For Gram-Positive Aerobes:
Enterococcus
| MIC (mcg/mL) | Interpretation |
| ≤8 | Susceptible (S) |
| ≥16 | Resistant (R) |
Staphylococcusa
| MIC (mcg/mL) | Interpretation |
| ≤0.25 | Susceptible (S) |
| ≥0.5 | Resistant (R) |
Streptococcus (except S. pneumoniae)
| MIC (mcg/mL) | Interpretation |
| ≤0.25 | Susceptible (S) |
| 0.5 to 4 | Intermediate (I) |
| ≥8 | Resistant (R) |
S. pneumoniaeb from non-meningitis sources.
(Amoxicillin powder should be used to determine susceptibility.)
| MIC (mcg/mL) | Interpretation |
| ≤2 | Susceptible (S) |
| 4 | Intermediate (I) |
| ≥8 | Resistant (R) |
NOTE: These interpretive criteria are based on the recommended doses for respiratory tract infections.
For Gram-Negative Aerobes:
Enterobacteriaceae
| MIC (mcg/mL) | Interpretation |
| ≤8 | Susceptible (S) |
| 16 | Intermediate (I) |
| ≥32 | Resistant (R) |
H. influenzaec
| MIC (mcg/mL) | Interpretation |
| ≤1 | Susceptible (S) |
| 2 | Intermediate (I) |
| ≥4 | Resistant (R) |
a. Staphylococci which are susceptible to amoxicillin but resistant to methicillin/oxacillin should be considered as resistant to amoxicillin.
b. These interpretive standards are applicable only to broth microdilution susceptibility tests using cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth with 2-5% lysed horse blood.
c. These interpretive standards are applicable only to broth microdilution test with Haemophilus influenzae using Haemophilus Test Medium (HTM). 1
A report of "Susceptible" indicates that the pathogen is likely to be inhibited if the antimicrobial compound in the blood reaches the concentrations usually achievable. A report of "Intermediate” indicates that the result should be considered equivocal, and if the microorganism is not fully susceptible to alternative, clinically feasible drugs, the test should be repeated. This category implies possible clinical applicability in body sites where the drug is physiologically concentrated or in situations where high dosage of drug can be used. This category also provides a buffer zone which prevents small uncontrolled technical factors from causing major discrepancies in interpretation. A report of "Resistant" indicates that the pathogen is not likely to be inhibited if the antimicrobial compound in the blood reaches the concentrations usually achievable; other therapy should be selected.
Standardized susceptibility test procedures require the use of laboratory control microorganisms to control the technical aspects of the laboratory procedures. Standard ampicillin powder should provide the following MIC values:
Using amoxicillin to determine susceptibility:
| Microorganism | MIC Range (mcg/mL) |
| E. coli ATCC 25922 | 2 to 8 |
| E. faecalis ATCC 29212 | 0.5 to 2 |
| H. influenzae ATCC 49247d | 2 to 8 |
| S. aureus ATCC 29213 | 0.25 to 1 |
| S pneumoniae ATCC 49619e | 0.03 to 0.12 |
d. This quality control range is applicable to only H. influenzae ATCC 49247 tested by a broth microdilution procedure using HTM1.
e. This quality control range is applicable to only S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619 tested by the broth microdilution procedure using caution-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth with 2-5% lysed horse blood.
Diffusion Techniques: Quantitative methods that require measurement of zone diameters also provide reproducible estimates of the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobial compounds. One such standardized procedure2 requires the use of standardized inoculum concentrations. This procedure uses paper disks impregnated with 10 mcg ampicillin to test the susceptibility of microorganisms, except S. pneumoniae, to amoxicillin. Interpretation involves correlation of the diameter obtained in the disk test with the MIC for ampicillin.
Reports from the laboratory providing results of the standard single-disk susceptibility test with a 10 mcg ampicillin disk should be interpreted according to the following criteria:
For Gram-Positive Aerobes:
Enterococcus
| Zone Diameter (mm) | Interpretation |
| ≥17 | Susceptible (S) |
| ≤16 | Resistant (R) |
Staphylococcusf
| Zone Diameter (mm) | Interpretation |
| ≥29 | Susceptible (S) |
| ≤28 | Resistant (R) |
β -hemolytic streptococci
| Zone Diameter (mm) | Interpretation |
| ≥26 | Susceptible (S) |
| 19 to 25 | Intermediate (I) |
| ≤18 | Resistant (R) |
NOTE: For streptococci (other than β -hemolytic streptococci and S. pneumoniae), an ampicillin MIC should be determined.
S. pneumoniae
S. pneumoniae should be tested using a 1 mcg oxacillin disk. Isolates with oxacillin zone sizes of ≥20 mm are susceptible to amoxicillin. An amoxicillin MIC should be determined on isolates of S. pneumoniae with oxacillin zone sizes of ≤19 mm.
For Gram-Negative Aerobes:
Enterobacteriaceae
| Zone Diameter (mm) | Interpretation |
| ≥17 | Susceptible (S) |
| 14 to 16 | Intermediate (I) |
| ≤13 | Resistant (R) |
H. influenzaeg
| Zone Diameter (mm) | Interpretation |
| ≥22 | Susceptible (S) |
| 19 to 21 | Intermediate (I) |
| ≤18 | Resistant (R) |
f. Staphylococci which are susceptible to amoxicillin but resistant to methicillin/oxacillin should be considered as resistant to amoxicillin.
g. These interpretive standards are applicable only to disk diffusion susceptibility tests with H. influenzae using Haemophilus Test Medium (HTM) 2.
Interpretation should be as stated above for results using dilution techniques.
As with standard dilution techniques, disk diffusion susceptibility test procedures require the use of laboratory control microorganisms. The 10-mcg ampicillin disk should provide the following zone diameters in these laboratory test quality control strains:
| Microorganism | Zone Diameter (mm) |
| E. coli ATCC 25922 | 16 to 22 |
| H. influenzae ATCC 49247h | 13 to 21 |
| S. aureus ATCC 25923 | 27 to 35 |
Using 1-mcg oxacillin disk:
| Microorganism | Zone Diameter (mm) |
| S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619i | 8 to 12 |
h. This quality control range is applicable to only H. influenzae ATCC 49247 tested by a disk diffusion procedure using HTM2.
i. This quality control range is applicable to only S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619 tested by a disk diffusion procedure using Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with 5% sheep blood and incubated in 5% C02.
Susceptibility Testing for Helicobacter pylori:In vitro susceptibility testing methods and diagnostic products currently available for determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and zone sizes have not been standardized, validated, or approved for testing H. pylori microorganisms. Culture and susceptibility testing should be obtained in patients who fail triple therapy. If clarithromycin resistance is found, a non-clarithromycin-containing regimen should be used.