Definition

Noun: 1. An enzyme produced by certain bacteria: Beta-lactamase is an enzyme that breaks down the molecular structure of beta-lactam antibiotics, rendering them ineffective. 2. A cause of antibiotic resistance: The production of this enzyme by bacteria is a primary mechanism of resistance to penicillin and other related antibiotics, such as cephalosporins.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The bacterial infection was difficult to treat because the strain produced beta-lactamase.
  • The presence of beta-lactamase was confirmed by the laboratory test.
  • Some antibiotics are combined with a beta-lactamase inhibitor to overcome this form of resistance.

Advanced Usage

• "Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)": This term refers to beta-lactamase enzymes that have mutated to break down an even wider range of beta-lactam antibiotics, including later-generation cephalosporins, making infections harder to treat.
  • The patient was isolated due to an infection with an ESBL-producing bacterium.

Variants and Related Words

• Beta-lactamase inhibitor (noun): A substance that blocks the action of the beta-lactamase enzyme, allowing the accompanying antibiotic to work.
  • Clavulanic acid is a common beta-lactamase inhibitor added to amoxicillin.

Synonyms

• Penicillinase (noun): A specific type of beta-lactamase that primarily inactivates penicillin. While all penicillinases are beta-lactamases, not all beta-lactamases are penicillinases.

Noun

1. enzyme produced by certain bacteria that inactivates penicillin and results in resistance to that antibiotic