NCIt definition : A monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic originally isolated from Chromobacterium violaceum
with bactericidal activity. Aztreonam preferentially binds to and inactivates penicillin-binding
protein-3 (PBP-3), which is involved in bacterial cell wall synthesis, thereby inhibiting
bacterial cell wall integrity and leading to cell lysis and death. This agent differs
from other beta-lactam antibiotics because it is resistant to beta-lactamase hydrolysis,
and it is usually used to treat infections caused by gram-negative aerobic microorganisms.;
Semantic type(s)