What are examples of beta lactam antibiotics?
1 Answer
There are three major classes of β-lactam antibiotics.
Explanation:
A lactam is a cyclic amide, and a β-lactam has the N atom attached to the β-carbon (C3) of the chain to form a 4-membered ring.
This is the characteristic feature of all β-lactam antibiotics.
β-Lactams are classified according to their core ring structures.
1. Penams: a thiazolidine ring fused to the β-lactam ring
Example: Penicillin G
2. Penems: a dihydrothiazole ring fused to the β-lactam ring
Example: faropenem
3. Carbapenems: a dihydropyrrole ring fused to the β-lactam ring
Example: meropenem
4. Cephems: a dihydrothiazine ring fused to the β-lactam ring
Example: cefalexin
5. Carbacephems : a tetrahydropyridine ring fused to the β-lactam ring
Example: loracarbef
6. Oxacephems : a dihydrooxazine ring fused to the β-lactam ring
Example: flomoxef