Chemicals and Drugs

beta-Lactams

Four-membered cyclic AMIDES, best known for the PENICILLINS based on a bicyclo-thiazolidine, as well as the CEPHALOSPORINS based on a bicyclo-thiazine, and including monocyclic MONOBACTAMS. The BETA-LACTAMASES hydrolyze the beta lactam ring, accounting for BETA-LACTAM RESISTANCE of infective bacteria.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Four-membered cyclic AMIDES, best known for the PENICILLINS based on a bicyclo-thiazolidine, as well as the CEPHALOSPORINS based on a bicyclo-thiazine, and including monocyclic MONOBACTAMS. The BETA-LACTAMASES hydrolyze the beta lactam ring, accounting for BETA-LACTAM RESISTANCE of infective bacteria.

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • beta-Lactam
  • beta Lactam
  • beta Lactams
  • 4-Thia-1-Azabicyclo(3.2.0)Heptanes
  • 4-Thia-1-Azabicyclo(4.2.0)Octanes

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

24 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

2005; use LACTAMS 1996-2004

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Lactams (1974-2004)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. beta-Lactams. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D047090. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D047090
  2. beta-Lactams. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%92-Lactam
  3. beta-Lactams. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41873