Beta-lactamase inhibitor
- Protects the partner beta-lactam from degradation → restores its activity
- No useful antibacterial activity alone — always a bodyguard, never a soldier
- Protects a partner beta-lactam from bacterial degradation
- No useful antibacterial activity alone
Drugs with this mechanism (6)
- Avibactam — Beta-lactamase inhibitor that restores partner-antibiotic activity against many resistant bacteria; does not inhibit metallo-beta-lactamases.
- Clavulanate — Beta-lactamase inhibitor that protects partner penicillins; contributes to amoxicillin/clavulanate-associated cholestatic liver injury.
- Relebactam — Beta-lactamase inhibitor paired with imipenem/cilastatin; inhibits KPC and AmpC enzymes, but not metallo-beta-lactamases.
- Sulbactam — Beta-lactamase inhibitor with its own activity against Acinetobacter; paired with ampicillin or durlobactam.
- Tazobactam — Beta-lactamase inhibitor paired with penicillins or cephalosporins; protects against many beta-lactamases but not metallo-beta-lactamases.
- Vaborbactam — Boronic-acid beta-lactamase inhibitor paired with meropenem; targets KPC carbapenemases, not metallo-beta-lactamases.
All mechanisms · Open Beta-lactamase inhibitor in the interactive console ↗