Final answer:
Cephalosporins are a class of antibiotics that contain a ß-lactam ring and inhibit cell wall synthesis in bacteria, making them effective against various infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cephalosporins belong to the classification of antibiotics. These drugs are known for their low toxicity and broad spectrum of action against various diseases, much like penicillin. Cephalosporins function by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, which makes them effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A key feature of cephalosporins is that they contain a ß-lactam ring, which is resistant to hydrolysis by many ß-lactamases, enzymes that can inactivate some other ß-lactam antibiotics. This structural characteristic allows them to be a crucial line of defence in the treatment of bacterial infections.