Final answer:
Zosyn, which contains piperacillin and tazobactam, is part of the beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor antibiotic group. It is used to treat infections caused by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by inhibiting cell wall synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zosyn is a combination antibiotic containing piperacillin and tazobactam. This medication falls within a group of drugs known as beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors. Unlike oxazolidinones such as linezolid, which act as synthetic protein synthesis inhibitors and interfere with the formation of the initiation complex for translation, Zosyn works by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell walls and blocking the activity of bacterial enzymes that would otherwise break down the antibiotic. Consequently, Zosyn is effective against a broad range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, making it useful in the treatment of various infections. Its ability to inhibit cell wall synthesis makes it part of the beta-lactam antibiotic group.