Amoxicillin is an antibiotic often used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. It may be used for middle ear infection, strep throat, pneumonia, skin infections, and urinary tract infections among others. It is taken by mouth, or less commonly by injection.
Amoxicillin belongs to a group of drugs called the penicillins. They originate from a form of fungi called Penicillium fungi. Amoxicillin fights bacteria and stops them from growing by preventing them from forming cell walls. This kills the bacteria and eventually eradicates the infection.
Amoxicillin is the generic form of the brand-name drug Amoxil, a drug used to treat bacterial infections. Doctors prescribe amoxicillin to treat infections caused by bacteria that are sensitive to the drug, including E. coli, staphylococcus, streptococcus, H. influenzae, and H. pylori. Amoxicillin is also sometimes used together with another antibiotic called clarithromycin (Biaxin) to treat stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection.