Final answer:
Cephalosporins are antibiotics similar to penicillin in that they contain beta-lactams which interfere with bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to the destruction of bacterial cells through osmotic lysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cephalosporins are the class of antibiotics that are also like penicillin's where they have beta-lactams that interfere with cell wall synthesis. These antibiotics share a similar mechanism of action with penicillin by targeting the cell wall biosynthesis of bacteria, which is crucial for their survival. Cephalosporins are bactericidal because they prevent the cross-linking of peptidoglycan chains in the bacterial cell wall leading to the absorption of water and bursting of the bacterial cells.
The increased usage of cephalosporins is due to their broad spectrum of action against various diseases, being effective against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. They comprise an important group of antibiotics, similar to penicillin, in combating bacterial infections. Cephalosporins like all beta-lactam antibiotics, are designed to have a structure that mimics the peptidoglycan subunit component recognized by the transpeptidase enzyme. This inhibits the enzyme's ability to cross-link peptide chains during new cell wall formation, rendering bacteria susceptible to osmotic lysis.