Question

Which of the following options describes the group of antimicrobial medications that inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis and have a shared chemical structure called a β-lactam ring?

1) The group of antimicrobial medications that inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis and have a shared chemical structure called a β-lactam ring.
2) The administration of two or more antimicrobial medications simultaneously to prevent the growth of mutants that might be resistant to one of the antimicrobials
3) The resistance of an organism to an antimicrobial due to the inherent characteristics of that type of organism
4) An antimicrobial able to inhibit or kill a wide range of microorganisms, often including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
5) A transporter that moves molecules out of the cell

Answer 1

The group of antimicrobial medications that inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis and have a shared chemical structure called a β-lactam ring is known as the β-lactams. They block the cross-linking of peptide chains during the biosynthesis of new peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall. The option (1) is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The group of antimicrobial medications that inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis and have a shared chemical structure called a β-lactam ring is known as the β-lactams.

This group includes penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, and carbapenems. These medications block the crosslinking of peptide chains during the biosynthesis of new peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall, making them effective against a wide range of bacteria. Therefore, option (1) is correct.