Ticarcillin and piperacillin are known for which of the following properties?

Ticarcillin and piperacillin belong to the class of antibiotics known as penicillins, which are beta-lactam antibiotics. The primary mechanism of action for this class of drugs involves the inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. They achieve this by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) on the bacterial cell wall, disrupting the cross-linking of peptidoglycan layers and ultimately leading to cell lysis.

Both ticarcillin and piperacillin are categorized as broad-spectrum antibiotics within the penicillin group. They are particularly effective against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including some strains that produce beta-lactamase enzymes. Piperacillin, in particular, has notable activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and some anaerobic bacteria when used in combination with other agents, making it an important choice in empirical therapy for severe infections.

The other options do not accurately describe ticarcillin and piperacillin. For instance, the drugs are not narrow-spectrum; rather, their broadspectrum activity is a definitive characteristic. They do not exert inhibitory effects on mRNA polymerase, as that mechanism is associated with different classes of antibiotics such as rifamycins.