Difference Between Beta Lactam and Non Beta Lactam

The key difference between beta lactam and non beta lactam is that the beta lactam antibiotics contain a beta lactam ring in their molecular structure while the non beta lactam antibiotics do not contain a beta lactam ring in their molecular structure.

Antibiotics are antimicrobial drugs that prevent bacterial infections. There is a wide variety of antibiotics. These medications revolutionized the medicine. Some antibiotics kill bacteria powerfully while some inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria. However, bacteria have gained antibiotic resistance due to their overuse and easy access. Beta lactam antibiotics and non beta lactam antibiotics are two major types of antibiotics.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Beta Lactam
3. What is Non Beta Lactam
4. Similarities Between Beta Lactam and Non Beta Lactam
5. Side by Side Comparison – Beta Lactam vs Non Beta Lactam in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Beta Lactam?

Beta lactam antibiotics are the antibiotics that contain beta lactam ring within their structures. They contain nitrogen molecule attached to the beta carbon. They are broad-spectrum antibiotics such as penicillin derivatives, cephalosporins, monobactams, carbapenems, etc. These antibiotics inhibit the biosynthesis of bacterial cell walls and thereby destroying the bacterial pathogens.

Their use is high compared to other antibiotics. However, bacteria have developed antibiotic resistivity against these beta lactam antibiotics. The enzyme called beta lactamase has given them the multi-resistance to beta lactam antibiotics. Thus, to overcome this problem, doctors prescribe beta lactamase inhibitors with beta lactam antibiotics. Beta lactam antibiotics are more active against grams positive bacteria. However, beta lactam antibiotics can be used for gram-negative bacteria as well.

What is Non Beta Lactam?

Non beta lactam antibiotics are the drugs or antimicrobial substances that do not contain beta lactam ring in their molecular structure. These antibiotics are less powerful than beta lactam antibiotics. Their use has shown poor treatment outcomes. Scientists assume this is because of the higher rate of inappropriate empiric therapy in the non beta lactam group. Vancomycin is one type of non beta lactam antibiotic, which has a very complex molecular structure. Fosfomycin and bacitracin are another two examples of non beta lactam antibiotics. Daptomycin is another non beta lactam antibiotic, which is a lipopeptide. Chloramphenicol is a bacteriostatic antibiotic, which is a non beta lactam.

Some researchers have mentioned that the efficacy of non beta lactam antibiotics can be enhanced when they use beta lactam antibiotics such as penicillin, etc. It is because, when they are together, they show a synergistic effect against the bacterial pathogens.

What are the Similarities Between Beta Lactam and Non Beta Lactam?

• Both are antibiotics that work against bacteria.
• These medicines can kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.

What is the Difference Between Beta Lactam and Non Beta Lactam?

Beta lactam and non beta lactam antibiotics are two types of antimicrobial drugs prescribed to prevent bacterial infections. Beta lactam antibiotics have a beta lactam ring within their structure while non beta lactam antibiotic does not have that ring. This is the key difference between beta lactam and non beta lactam antibiotics. Moreover, beta lactam antibiotics have a broad spectrum and more powerful than the non beta lactam antibiotics.

Summary – Beta Lactam vs Non Beta Lactam

Antibiotics are medications that use to prevent bacterial infections. They can be bactericidal or bacteriostatic. Bactericides kill bacteria while bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit or arrest the growth of bacteria. Beta lactam antibiotics and non beta lactam antibiotics are of two types, among them, beta lactam antibiotics are more powerful and broad spectrum than non beta lactam antibiotics. There is a beta lactam ring within the molecular structure of beta lactam antibiotics while it is not present in non beta lactam antibiotics. This is the difference between beta lactam and non beta lactam antibiotics.

Reference:

1.“Β-Lactam Antibiotic.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Aug. 2018. Available here 
2.FutureLearn. “Non-Beta-Lactam Antibiotics – Exploring Everyday Chemistry – University of York.”FutureLearn, Newcastle University. Available here 

Image Courtesy:

1.”Beta-lactam antibiotics example 1″By Fvasconcellos 19:02, 23 October 2007 (UTC) – Own work, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia 
2.”Vancomycin”By Mrgreen71 – Own work, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia