beta - Lactamases cause resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins by
Penicillins and cephalosporins are called beta-Iactam drugs because of the importance of the intact BETA-lactam ring for antimicrobial activity. -Lac­tamases inactivate these drugs by breaking the single bond in their BETA-lactam ring. BETA-Lactamases are coded for by either a transferable plasmid or by the genome of the organism. Plasmids are extrachromosomal genetic elements that may be transferred among unrelated bacteria.
Breaking one chemical bond
Breaking two chemical bonds
Adding amino (NH2) groups to a molecule
Inhibiting transpeptidase enzymes