While discussing drug combinations, including the beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, the pharmacology instructor explains their mechanisms of action. what benefit is derived from combining a beta-lactamase inhibitor with a penicillin?

It extends the spectrum of antibacterial activity of the penicillin.

Explanation:

The spectrum of the antibiotics may be defined the ability to kill the different range of the organism. Two main spectra of the antibiotics are narrow spectrum antibiotics and wide spectrum antibiotics.

Beta lactamse is the enzyme that help in the providing resistivity to the beta lactam antibiotics. The combination of the beta lactamse inhibitor with the penicillin helps in increasing and widening the spectrum of the penicillin. The penicillin can kill the large number of bacteria after its combination with beta lactamse inhibitor.