Pharmacotherapeutics of newer penicillins and cephalosporins.

The beta-lactam group of compounds includes a large number of biologically active substances. Some are important as antibiotics (penicillin and cephalosporins) or antibiotic precursors (6-aminopenicillanic acid) and some are important due to their inhibitory action on several beta-lactamases. The pharmacologic features of these compounds are discussed on the basis of their structure, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, therapeutics, toxicologic properties, interaction, and incompatibilities.