TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Beta-Lactam Antibiotics & Other Cell Wall- & Membrane-Active Antibiotics A1 - Katzung, Bertram G. A1 - Kruidering-Hall, Marieke A1 - Trevor, Anthony J. PY - 2019 T2 - Katzung & Trevor's Pharmacology: Examination & Board Review, 12e AB - Penicillins and cephalosporins are the major antibiotics that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis. They are called beta-lactams because of the unusual 4-member ring that is common to all their members. The beta-lactams include some of the most effective, widely used, and well-tolerated agents available for the treatment of microbial infections. Vancomycin, fosfomycin, and bacitracin also inhibit cell wall synthesis but are not as important as the beta-lactam drugs. Daptomycin, an alternative to vancomycin, directly disrupts the cell membrane. The selective toxicity of the drugs discussed in this chapter is mainly due to specific actions on the synthesis of a cellular structure that is unique to the microorganism. More than 50 antibiotics that act as cell wall synthesis inhibitors are currently available, with individual spectra of activity that afford a wide range of clinical applications. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1156530159 ER -