key term - β-lactamase inhibitors

Definition

β-lactamase inhibitors are compounds that block the activity of β-lactamase enzymes, which are produced by bacteria to resist β-lactam antibiotics. They are often combined with β-lactam antibiotics to enhance their effectiveness against resistant bacterial strains.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. β-lactamase inhibitors do not possess significant antibacterial activity on their own but work synergistically with β-lactam antibiotics.
2. Common β-lactamase inhibitors include clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and tazobactam.
3. These inhibitors target the active site of the β-lactamase enzyme, preventing it from breaking down β-lactam antibiotics.
4. The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid is a widely used example of a β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor pairing known as Augmentin.
5. Resistance to β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations can still occur through mechanisms such as overproduction of β-lactamase or mutations in the enzyme.

Review Questions

Related terms

β-Lactams: A class of broad-spectrum antibiotics that include penicillin and cephalosporins.

Antibiotic Resistance:

The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of an antibiotic.

Synergism: When two drugs work together to produce a greater effect than each would alone.