RT Book, Section A1 MacDougall, Conan A2 Brunton, Laurence L. A2 Hilal-Dandan, Randa A2 Knollmann, Björn C. SR Print(0) ID 1162544617 T1 Penicillins, Cephalosporins, and Other β-Lactam Antibiotics T2 Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13e YR 2017 FD 2017 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259584732 LK hemonc.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1162544617 RD 2024/10/07 AB The β-lactam antibiotics—penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, and monobactams—share a common structure (β-lactam ring) and mechanism of action (i.e., inhibition of the synthesis of the bacterial peptidoglycan cell wall). Bacterial resistance against the β-lactam antibiotics continues to increase at a dramatic rate. β-Lactamase inhibitors such as clavulanate and avibactam can extend the utility of these antibiotics against β-lactamase–producing organisms. Unfortunately, resistance includes not only production of β-lactamases but also alterations in the bacterial enzymes targeted by β-lactam antibiotics, as well as decreased entry or active efflux of the antibiotic.