Fernandes, RúbenAmador, PaulaPrudêncio, Cristina2015-12-012020-01-012013Fernandes, Rúben; Amador, Paula; Prudêncio, Cristina. ß-Lactams: chemical structure, mode of action and mechanisms of resistance, Reviews in Medical Microbiology, 24, 1, 7-17, 2013.http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/7041This synopsis summarizes the key chemical and bacteriological characteristics of β-lactams, penicillins, cephalosporins, carbanpenems, monobactams and others. Particular notice is given to first-generation to fifth-generation cephalosporins. This review also summarizes the main resistance mechanism to antibiotics, focusing particular attention to those conferring resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins by means of production of emerging cephalosporinases (extended-spectrum β-lactamases and AmpC β-lactamases), target alteration (penicillin-binding proteins from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and membrane transporters that pump β-lactams out of the bacterial cell.engjournal article2013-07-2510.1097/MRM.0b013e3283587727