A beta-lactamase inhibitor is a drug given in conjunction with a beta-lactam antibiotic

Beta-lactam antibiotic

β-Lactam antibiotics are a broad class of antibiotics, consisting of all antibiotic agents that contains a β-lactam nucleus in its molecular structure. This includes penicillin derivatives , cephalosporins , monobactams, and carbapenems...

. Although the inhibitor does not usually have significant antibiotic activity on its own, it inhibits activity of beta-lactamase

Beta-lactamase

Beta-lactamases are enzymes produced by some bacteria and are responsible for their resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins, cephamycins, and carbapenems . These antibiotics have a common element in their molecular structure: a four-atom ring known as a beta-lactam...

, a protein that confers resistance of beta-lactam antibiotics to bacteria.

Beta-lactamase inhibitors in clinical use include clavulanic acid

Clavulanic acid

Clavulanic acid is a competitive β-lactamase inhibitor combined with penicillin group antibiotics to overcome certain types of antibiotic resistance. It is used to overcome resistance in bacteria that secrete β-lactamase, which otherwise inactivates most penicillins...

 and its potassium salt (usually combined with amoxicillin

Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin , formerly amoxycillin , and abbreviated amox, is a moderate-spectrum, bacteriolytic, β-lactam antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. It is usually the drug of choice within the class because it is better absorbed, following oral...

 or ticarcillin

Ticarcillin

Ticarcillin is a carboxypenicillin. It is almost invariably sold and used in combination with clavulanate as Timentin. Because it is a penicillin, it also falls within the larger class of beta-lactam antibiotics. Its main clinical use is as an injectable antibiotic for the treatment of...

), sulbactam

Sulbactam

Sulbactam is a molecule that is given in combination with beta-lactam antibiotics to inhibit beta-lactamase, an enzyme produced by bacteria that destroys the antibiotics...

 and tazobactam

Tazobactam

Tazobactam is a compound that inhibits the action of bacterial beta-lactamases. It is added to the extended spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic piperacillin to produce Tazocin or Zosyn or Piprataz...

.