Which of the following is a common class of antiviral medications?

Nucleoside analogues constitute a prominent class of antiviral medications, particularly because of their role in inhibiting viral replication. These compounds mimic the natural nucleosides found in DNA and RNA, effectively disrupting the synthesis of viral genetic material. By being incorporated into the viral genome or interfering with the polymerase enzymes responsible for nucleic acid synthesis, nucleoside analogues can halt the replication process of various viruses, including those responsible for infections like HIV, Hepatitis B, and Herpes Simplex.

Other classes, such as beta-lactams, are primarily antibiotics targeting bacterial infections, not viral infections. Macrolides are also antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections and do not play a role in antiviral therapy. Fluoroquinolones, another class of antibiotics, similarly focus on bacteria rather than viruses. Therefore, nucleoside analogues stand out as a fundamental group in the antiviral pharmacological landscape, making them the correct answer in this context.