β-Lactams

Core structure of penicillins (top) and cephalosporins (bottom). β-lactam ring in red.

β-lactam antibiotics (beta-lactam antibiotics) are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics, consisting of all antibiotic agents that contain a beta-lactam ring in their molecular structures.

FDA has approved over 34 beta-lactam compounds as active ingredients in drugs for human use. Beta-lactam antibiotics include the following five classes:
. penicillins (e.g., ampicillin, oxacillin)
. cephalosporins (e.g., cephalexin, cefaclor)
. penems (e.g., imipenem, meropenem)
. carbacephems (e.g., loracarbef)
. monobactams (e.g., aztreonam)

β-lactam antibiotics are the most widely used class of drugs for the treatment of bacterial infections in man and animals and have been prescribed for over 70 years. Beta-lactams are also administered to animals in feed for growth promotion and for collective prophylactic treatment. Allergic reactions associated with beta-lactams range from rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis. The monitoring of beta-lactam residues in edible tissues and milk is important because of the hypersensitivity of some individuals to these antibiotics and also the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. For this reason, maximum residue limits have been specified for food products and milk to try and control the levels of these antibiotics reaching the consumer.

CD provide enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative analysis of beta-lactams including ampicillin, penicillin G, amoxicillin, cephalosporins, cloxacillin, oxacillin in milk, urine, tissue (liver, kidney, and muscle), honey, serum, plasma, egg and orange juice samples.

Key β-lactam antibiotics analytes in our portfolio:

+ Ampicillin
+ Amoxicillin
+ Cefquinome
+ Ceftiofur
+ Cephalexin
+ Cephalosporin
+ Cloxacillin
+ Dicloxacillin
+ Nafcillin
+ Oxacillin
+ Penicillin