Beta-Lactam Antibiotic

**Semantic type:** Chemical Viewed Functionally

**Definition:** A compound with a four member amide ring (beta-lactam), where one member is the amide nitrogen and another is the carbonyl carbon, with bactericidal activity. Beta-lactam antibiotics act by disrupting the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of the bacterial cell wall.

**Synonyms:** - Lactam Antibiotics