Antipseudomonal penicillins are susceptible to which type of enzymes?

Antipseudomonal penicillins, such as piperacillin and ticarcillin, are specifically designed to target Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other gram-negative bacteria. These antibiotics possess a beta-lactam ring, which is essential for their antibacterial action. However, this structural feature also makes them vulnerable to the action of beta-lactamase enzymes.

Beta-lactamases are enzymes produced by some bacteria that can hydrolyze the beta-lactam ring of penicillins, rendering them ineffective. These enzymes can be classified into different types based on their activity and the spectrum of antibiotics they can inactivate. When beta-lactamase-producing organisms encounter antipseudomonal penicillins, the presence of these enzymes can lead to resistance, ultimately compromising the effectiveness of the antibiotics against the infections they aim to treat.

In contrast, cephalosporinases are enzymes that primarily target cephalosporins, not beta-lactam antibiotics like piperacillin and ticarcillin. Carbapenemases, on the other hand, are responsible for hydrolyzing carbapenems, a different class of beta-lactam antibiotics, while penicillin-binding proteins are