β-Lactam hydrolysis of cephalosporin followed by nonenzymatic release of a leaving group (LG). β-Lactam hydrolysis of cephalosporin followed by nonenzymatic release of a leaving group (LG). Enzymatic hydrolysis may be due to β-lactamases, such as serine- or metallo-based β-lactamases, or β-lactam target enzyme transpeptidases. Most hybrid prodrugs utilize this mechanism to release another antibiotic as a leaving group. R, any molecular substituent; E, enzyme. Ronald Domalaon et al. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 2018; doi:10.1128/CMR.00077-17