title: [beta-Lactam antibiotics].
abstract: Betalactams, which act by inhibiting the last phase of bacterial cell wall synthesis, constitute the largest family of antimicrobial agents and the most extensively used in current clinical practice. These drug have a slow bactericidal action that is relatively independent of plasma concentrations, little toxicity and a broad therapeutic margin. Their spectrum has increased over the years with the incorporation of new molecules having greater activity against gram-negative bacilli. Nevertheless, the progressive emergence of acquired resistance has limited the empirical use of betalactams and their efficacy in certain situations. Despite this problem, penicillin is still the treatment of choice for a large number of classic infections, cephalosporins are widely used in surgical prophylaxis and severe community-acquired infections, carbapenems are the choice for mixed nosocomial and multiresistant bacterial infections and betalactamase inhibitors permit the effective use of amino- and ureido-penicillins in highly significant infections.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Hospital de Bellvitge. Universidad de Barcelona. Hospitalet de Llobregat. Barcelona. España.
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gudiol
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008997:Monobactams / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D010406:Penicillins / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015780:Carbapenems; D002511:Cephalosporins; D008997:Monobactams; D010406:Penicillins; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors