Interactions between active‐site serine β‐lactamases and so‐called β‐lactamase‐stable antibiotics

Abstract

The interactions between imipenem and four monobactams and three class A beta-lactamases have been studied in detail. Despite their reputation as being beta-lactamase-stable, some of these compounds were significantly hydrolysed by the enzymes. The results obtained with the Streptomyces albus G beta-lactamase have been analysed in the light of molecular modelling studies. The discussion is extended to include other so-called beta-lactamase-stable antibiotics to demonstrate that this appellation can often be misleading.