Beta-lactam

WikiDoc Resources for Beta-lactam
Articles
Most recent articles on Beta-lactam Most cited articles on Beta-lactam Review articles on Beta-lactam Articles on Beta-lactam in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Beta-lactam Images of Beta-lactam Photos of Beta-lactam Podcasts & MP3s on Beta-lactam Videos on Beta-lactam
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Beta-lactam Bandolier on Beta-lactam TRIP on Beta-lactam
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Beta-lactam at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Beta-lactam Clinical Trials on Beta-lactam at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Beta-lactam NICE Guidance on Beta-lactam NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Beta-lactam CDC on Beta-lactam
Books
Books on Beta-lactam
News
Beta-lactam in the news Be alerted to news on Beta-lactam News trends on Beta-lactam
Commentary
Blogs on Beta-lactam
Definitions
Definitions of Beta-lactam
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Beta-lactam Discussion groups on Beta-lactam Patient Handouts on Beta-lactam Directions to Hospitals Treating Beta-lactam Risk calculators and risk factors for Beta-lactam
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Beta-lactam Causes & Risk Factors for Beta-lactam Diagnostic studies for Beta-lactam Treatment of Beta-lactam
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Beta-lactam
International
Beta-lactam en Espanol Beta-lactam en Francais
Business
Beta-lactam in the Marketplace Patents on Beta-lactam
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Beta-lactam

Penicillin nucleus. Beta lactam is the square at the center.

File:Clavulanic acid structure.svg Clavulanic acid

File:Amoxicillin2.svg Amoxicillin

File:Ampicillin structure.svg Ampicillin

File:Flucloxacillin structure.svg Flucloxacillin

File:Methicillin.png Methicillin

File:Dicloxacillin.png Dicloxacillin

A beta-lactam ring (β-lactam) or penam is a lactam with a heteroatomic ring structure, consisting of three carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom. The beta-lactam ring is part of the structure of several antibiotic families, principally the penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems and monobactams, which are therefore also called beta-lactam antibiotics. These antibiotics work by inhibiting the bacterial cell wall synthesis. This has a lethal effect on bacteria, especially on Gram-positive ones. Bacteria can become resistant against beta-lactam antibiotics by expressing beta-lactamase.

Beta-lactam resistance

Because of the popularity of beta-lactam drugs, certain bacteria have been able to develop counter-measures to traditional drug therapies. An enzyme called beta-lactamase is present in many different types of bacteria, which serves to 'break' the beta lactam ring, which effectively nullifies the antibiotic's effectiveness.

Response to beta-lactam resistance

As a response to bacterial resistance to beta-lactam drugs, there are drugs, such as Augmentin, which are designed to disable the beta-lactamase enzyme. Augmentin is made of amoxicillin, a beta-lactam antibiotic, and clavulanic acid, a beta-lactamase inhibitor. The clavulanic acid is designed to overwhelm all beta-lactamase enzymes, bind irreversibly to them, and effectively serve as an antagonist so that the amoxicillin is not affected by the beta-lactamase enzymes.

Secondary beta-lactam drug resistance

As a response to decreased efficacy of beta-lactamase, some bacteria have changed the proteins that beta-lactam antibiotics bind, the penicillin binding proteins (PBPs). Since the PBPs no longer recognize the beta-lactams, the antibiotics are essentially useless. This is the mechanism behind the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

See also

• ATC code J01#J01C Beta-lactam antibacterials.2C penicillins
• Bacteria

External links

• Synthesis of beta-lactamsde:β-Lactam-Antibiotikako:베타-락탐