Final answer:
Clavulanic acid inactivates β-lactamases and is used in combination with penicillins, sulfonamides are bacteriostatic by inhibiting folic acid synthesis, and polymyxin B is bactericidal by disrupting bacterial cell membranes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question concerns the drug targets of clavulanic acid, sulfonamides, and polymyxin B and categorizes them according to their microbicidal or microbistatic actions. Clavulanic acid is known for inactivating resistance mechanisms, particularly β-lactamases, through irreversible binding; therefore, it is used in combination with penicillins to overcome bacterial resistance. Sulfonamides act as antimetabolites by inhibiting bacterial folic acid synthesis, making them bacteriostatic drugs. Finally, polymyxin B targets the bacterial cell membrane of gram-negative bacteria, disrupting its structure and leading to cell death, hence it is classified as bactericidal.