Which drug would be prescribed as a beta-lactamase inhibitor to protect beta-lactam antibiotics?

Clavulanic acid functions as a beta-lactamase inhibitor by irreversibly binding to the active site of beta-lactamase enzymes, which are produced by certain bacteria to inactivate beta-lactam antibiotics. By inhibiting these enzymes, clavulanic acid protects beta-lactam antibiotics from degradation, thereby enhancing their efficacy against resistant bacterial strains.

When used in combination with beta-lactam antibiotics such as amoxicillin, it allows for a broader spectrum of activity against bacteria that might otherwise be resistant due to the production of beta-lactamases. This combination is especially important in treating infections caused by strains of bacteria that are known to produce these resistance enzymes.

In contrast, other options listed, such as amoxicillin, metronidazole, and fluoroquinolones, do not serve as beta-lactamase inhibitors. Amoxicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic itself, while metronidazole and fluoroquinolones belong to entirely different classes of antibiotics, thus lacking the mechanism of beta-lactamase inhibition.