Beta-lactam antibiotics form a family of antibiotics. Characteristic of representatives of this group is that their chemical structural formula forms a lactam ring consisting of four members. Beta-lactam antibiotics originate from the early penicillin, which is why they have a bactericidal effect and are used to fight various infections. The mechanism of action of beta-lactam antibiotics is due to inhibition of cell division of infectious bacteria.
What are beta-lactam antibiotics?
Beta-lactam antibiotics, as they are called, are a group of anti-infectives that have a strong bactericidal effect and are used in human medicine to combat various infectious diseases. The mechanism of action of all beta-lactam antibiotics is due to inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis during cell division of infectious bacteria. These are no longer able to multiply as a result of the antibiotic. They die. The chemical commonality of all representatives of the drug group of beta-lactam antibiotics is that their structural formulas have a beta-lactam ring. Therefore, the moral mass of beta-lactam agents is quite similar. However, the individual agents in the group exhibit different efficacy against individual pathogens, each due to a different penetration ability and affinity. Accordingly, beta-lactam antibiotics are divided into different groups and generations. In the human medical or pharmacological literature, a distinction is made between
Penicillins (e.g., benzylpenicillin, flucloxacillin),
Cephalosporins (e.g., cefuroxime, cefotaxime),
beta-lactamase inhibitors (e.g. sulbactam) and
Other beta-lactam antibiotics (e.g., doripenem, ertapenem, imipenem).
Pharmacologic action
Beta-lactam antibiotics have a lactam ring in their chemical structural formula. All representatives of the drug group cause inhibition (inhibition) of cell wall synthesis of infectious bacteria. For these, the cell wall is of essential importance, as they are not viable without it. This is because without a sufficiently functioning cell wall, water can penetrate unhindered into the interior of the cell. This causes the bacterium to swell, which leads to rupture of the plasmalemma and thus to death. Because of this mechanism of action, beta-lactam antibiotics are fundamentally ineffective against eukaryotic cells. This is because eukaryotic cells do not have a cell wall by nature, which means that inhibition of cell wall synthesis cannot be effective at all. The active ingredients in this group have a bactericidal (i.e. killing) effect on bacteria that are sensitive to beta-lactam antibiotics. Against latent germs, on the other hand, the effect of the drugs is described as bacteriostatic. In this case, the antibiotics only inhibit the multiplication or growth of bacteria without killing dormant germs. During the use of beta-lactam antibiotics, resistance rarely develops. However, some bacteria are capable of producing the enzyme beta-lactamase, which breaks down the beta-lactam ring of antibiotics. Since this plays a significant role in the mechanism of action, the drugs are completely inactivated by beta-lactamase. Beta-lactam preparations are therefore ineffective against these bacteria, which include staphylococci, for example. To combat such resistance, various substances (e.g. clavulanic acid) that inhibit beta-lactamase have been developed in the pharmaceutical industry. Such substances are administered together with beta-lactam preparations in order to still achieve efficacy. Nevertheless, numerous studies have shown that the sometimes irresponsibly frequent administration of representatives of the beta-lactam group (especially penicillin) has led to the development of resistance. These are caused by changes in the cell membrane or generally insensitive binding proteins. Such bacteria must be combated with other antibiotics, since representatives of the beta-lactam group are either only greatly reduced or even completely ineffective.
Medical application and use
Preparations belonging to the beta-lactam antibiotic group are administered to treat various infectious diseases.Examples include community-acquired pneumonia, skin or soft tissue infections, gynecological infections, intra-abdominal infections, and postoperative abdominal infections. In general, beta-lactam antibiotics are used to fight both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens. The field of application of these antibiotics is thus comparatively broad. Gram-positive pathogens are those that turn blue in the course of a differential staining process. Analogously, we speak of Gram-negative bacteria when they turn red. Some representatives of the beta-lactam antibiotics can also be administered to children. However, this depends on the specific drug or active substance, which is why separate testing is necessary.
Risks and side effects
Beta-lactam antibiotics may cause undesirable side effects during or shortly after treatment, but this need not necessarily be the case. The specific extent as well as the frequency with which the side effects may occur depend on the particular agent. However, headaches, a general feeling of malaise, fever, skin reactions (e.g. small or extensive redness, itching or a burning sensation), an increase in the platelet count in the blood, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, as well as other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are generally possible. In particular, excessive skin reactions as well as fever are considered signs of a general intolerance. In these cases, there is a medical contraindication (contraindication), which usually leads to the immediate discontinuation of treatment.
