Beta (ß)-lactamase inhibitor (BLI)

Agents that inhibit the activity of bacterial beta-lactamases, enzymes that hydrolyse and inactivate beta-lactam antibiotics and are a common cause of antibiotic resistance.

To protect the beta-lactam antibiotic from inactivation, beta-lactamase inhibitors are used in combination with a beta-lactam drug (BL–BLI combinations). Examples of beta-lactamase inhibitors include clavulanic acid, sulbactam, tazobactam and avibactam.

The latest advances in β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations for the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections (Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2019)

β-lactamases and β-lactamase inhibitors in the 21st Century (Journal of Microbiology, 2019)