The β-lactam antibiotics: Their future in the face of resistance

Abstract

The search for new β-lactam antibacterial agents is a major challenge in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), pan-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and pan-resistant nonfermenter bacteria are present day clinical scourges. New cephalosporins and carbapenems may solve this problem, but new monosulfactams and monocarbams also show promise. High-molecular-mass PBPs are envisioned as β-lactam targets. Further research keeps revealing interesting aspects about β-lactam resistance by β-lactamases, the existence of sentinel proteins, and the complexity of the cell envelope.