Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern against beta lactams and its Current Derivatives

Abstract

Beta-lactams antibiotics were introduced into the health care system in later stages of World War II which is the most important contribution to the medical science history. Today beta- lactams remain the most widely used antibiotics against bacterial infections owing to their higher efficiency, low cost, ease of delivery, and minimal side effects. Low cost of production of beta lactams antibiotic contributes to its easy availability, thus it is imperative to preserve the power of this valuable clinical resource. [1] These antibiotics are the broad class of antibiotics consisting of the agents that contain β-lactams ring in their molecular structure. These include penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams and carbepenems. [2] Penicillin was the first antibiotic which was clinically used in 1941 by Alexander Flemings, Scottish bacteriologist. These agents are active against many gram negative, gram positive and anaerobic organisms. Betalactams antibiotics generally target the transpeptidase enzyme that is responsible for the synthesis of bacterial cell wall. These enzymes are localized to the outer leaflet of bacterial cytoplasmic membrane and they are specific to bacteria. [3]