The resistant strains due to the extended-spectrum $eta$-lactamase (ESBL) were susceptible to cefatrizine combined with clavulanic acid. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of cefatrizine/clavulanic acid (CTRZ/CV) combination at a ratio of 2 : 1 in comparison with cefaclor (CCLO), cefuroxime (CRXM), cefuroxime axetil (CRXMA) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMXCCV). CTRZ/CV showed good activity against laboratory strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against $eta$-lactamase-producing strains. The bactericidal activity of CTRZ/CV was superior to that of CCLO and CRXM, and almost equal to that of AMXCCV against the $eta$-lactamase-producing strains. The in vitro results were substantiated. by in vivo mouse experimental infection studies with $eta$-lactamase-producing and non-producing strains. In mixed experimental infection due to $eta$-lactamase-producing and non-producing strains, the therapeutic efficacy of CTRZ/CV was superior to that of CTRZ, CCLO, CRXMA and AMXCCV. In respiratory tract infection in mice due to Klebsiella pneumoniae EB4O, CTRZ/CV was more erective than CCLO, CRXMA and AMXCCV and also more efficacious than CCLO, CRXMA and AMXCCV in urinary tract infection in mice due to Escherichia coli EB13. These results indicate that CTRZ/CV is a useful drug for the treatment of infection caused by $eta$-1actamase-producing strains including ESBL-producing strains.