Pharmacology Question

[ONEGR8MOM]

Are beta-lactamases the same thing as penicillinases? Thanks!

[Eirene, ASN, RN]

if i remember correctly, the beta-lactamases fit underneath the penicillinases umbrella (basically the same thing, but a different strain).

to be safe, i'd wait for daytonight to come along! she's the bomb-diggity with this kind of stuff.

[msdobson]

Hi OneGr8Mom!

Welcome to AllNurses.com!

Short answer, Yes.

Other short answer, No.

One (Penicillinase) is a particular type of β lactamase, showing specificity for penicillins. It is a functional classification (group 2a) β lactamase.

Hope this helps.

[msdobson]

to be safe, i'd wait for daytonight to come along!

as if! :angryfire

okay...she's right.

daytonite is my personal hero, :bowingpur a gigantic font of knowledge. [and a really sweet lady, too!]

[msdobson]

Hi OneGr8Mom.

Here's the lowdown on the highlights:

Beta-lactamase is a type of enzyme (EC 3.5.2.6) produced by some bacteria that is responsible for their resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins and carbapenems. These antibiotics have a common element in their molecular structure: a four-atom ring known as a beta-lactam. The lactamase enzyme breaks that ring open, deactivating the molecule's antibacterial properties.

Beta-lactamases produced by gram-positive organisms are usually secreted.

Penicillinase is a particular type of β lactamase, showing specificity for penicillins, again by hydrolysing the beta-lactam ring. Molecular weights of the various penicillinases tend to cluster near 50,000.

Penicillinase was the first β-lactamase to be identified: it was first isolated by Abraham and Chain in 1940 from E. coli even before penicillin entered clinical use[1] but penicillinase production quickly spread to bacteria that previously did not produce it or only produced it rarely. Penicillinase-resistant β lactams such as methicillin were developed, but there is now widespread resistance to even these (for example, MRSA)

[msdobson]

**Note** All of the above was shamelessly cribbed from other, less neurologically-challenged individuals than myself.

[ONEGR8MOM]

Thanks for the welcome and the help! It makes much more sense to me now!