Beta-lactams in the new millennium. Part-II: cephems, oxacephems, penams and sulbactam.

Beta-lactam ring-containing compounds such as penicillins, ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalosporins and carbapenems are among the most famous antibiotics. This article reviews the recent developments in study of cephems, oxacephems, penams and sulbactam. Many of the compounds reviewed have potential antibacterial activity, even against resistant strains such as MRSA, and enzyme inhibitory activity.