How does piperacillin/tazobactam work?

• A. Inhibits protein synthesis.
• B. Disrupts nucleic acid synthesis.
• C. Inhibits cell wall synthesis.
• D. Inhibits folate synthesis.

Answer: (C)

Piperacillin/tazobactam works by blocking bacterial cell wall synthesis. Piperacillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic that binds to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), enzymes essential for cross-linking peptidoglycan in the cell wall. When these PBPs are inhibited, the wall cannot form properly, and the bacterial cell becomes weak and ultimately dies as it can’t withstand osmotic pressure during growth. Tazobactam is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that protects piperacillin from being degraded by bacterial beta-lactamases, extending its activity and broadening the spectrum. This combination is not about inhibiting protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, or folate synthesis, which are mechanisms of other antibiotic classes.