Which of the following drugs is known to be a beta-lactam antibiotic like Cephalexin?

Cefalexin is a beta-lactam antibiotic that belongs to the cephalosporin class. Like Cephalexin, it contains the beta-lactam ring structure which is essential for its antibacterial activity. This structure allows the drug to inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to cell lysis and death.

In clinical practice, Cephalexin is commonly used to treat various infections, particularly those caused by gram-positive bacteria. This makes it a relevant choice for a question regarding other drugs in the same class.

In contrast, the other listed drugs belong to different classes of antibiotics. Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that primarily targets gram-positive bacteria by inhibiting cell wall synthesis but does not share the beta-lactam structure. Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic which works by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria, whereas Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole antibiotic effective against anaerobic bacteria and certain parasites, and it does not fall into the beta-lactam category either.

Understanding the class characteristics and mechanisms of action of these antibiotics helps in identifying and contextualizing the treatment options for bacterial infections.