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Which of the following antibiotics are beta-lactams?

A.Penicillin, vancomycin, cephalosporins
B.Penicillin, gentamycin, erythromycin
C.Penicillin, cephalosporins
D.Metronidazole, erythromycin
E.Sulfa, clindamycin

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

Beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillin and cephalosporins, contain a beta-lactam ring essential for inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to which antibiotics are beta-lactams is Penicillin and cephalosporins. Beta-lactam antibiotics are a class of antibiotics that include penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, and monobactams, all of which contain a beta-lactam ring in their molecular structures. This ring is essential for their antibacterial activity as they inhibit cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Penicillin, the first antibiotic discovered, and cephalosporins both contain a beta-lactam ring and disrupt cell wall synthesis in bacteria, making them effective against various bacterial infections.

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