| monobactam | A class of antibiotic that has a monocyclic beta-lactam nucleus and is structurally different from other beta-lactams; e.g., aztreonam. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| monobactams | Monocyclic, bacterially produced or semisynthetic beta-lactam antibiotics. They lack the double ring construction of the traditional beta-lactam antibiotics and can be easily synthesised. Addition of therapeutically proven penicillin and cephalosporin side chains to the monobactam nucleus will yield other beta-lactamase-resistant and more efficaceous antibiotics. (12 Dec 1998) |