cephalosporin

cephalosporin /ceph·a·lo·spo·rin/ (sef″ah-lo-spor´in) any of a group of broad-spectrum, penicillinase-resistant antibiotics from Acremonium, related to the penicillins in both structure and mode of action. Those used medicinally are semisynthetic derivatives of the natural antibiotic cephalosporin C. First-generation cephalosporins have a broad range of activity against gram-positive organisms and a narrow range of activity against gram-negative organisms; second-, third-, and fourth generation agents are progressively more active against gram-negative organisms and less active against gram-positive organisms.

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ceph·a·lo·spo·rin (sf--l-spôrn)

n.

Any of various broad-spectrum antibiotics, closely related to the penicillins, that were originally derived from the fungus Cephalosporium acremonium and are used to treat bacterial infections.

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antibiotic 

1. Pertaining to the ability to destroy or inhibit other living organisms.

2. A substance derived from a mould or bacterium, or produced synthetically, that destroys (bactericidal) or inhibits the growth (bacteriostatic) of other microorganisms and is thus used to treat infections. Some substances have a narrow spectrum of activity whereas others act against a wide range of both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms (broad-spectrum antibiotics). Antibiotics can be classified into several groups according to their mode of action on or within bacteria: (1) Drugs inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, such as bacitracin, vancomycin and the β-lactams based agents (e.g. penicillin, cephalosporins (e.g. ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime). (2) Drugs affecting the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, such as polymyxin B sulfate and gramicidin. (3) Drugs inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, such as aminoglycosides (e.g. amikacin sulfate, framycetin sulfate, gentamicin, neomycin sulfate and tobramycin), tetracyclines, macrolides (e.g. erythromycin and azithromycin) and chloramphenicol. (4) Drugs inhibiting the intermediate metabolism of bacteria, such as sulfonamides (e.g. sulfacetamide sodium) and trimethoprim. (5) Drugs inhibiting bacterial DNA synthesis, such as nalixidic acid and fluoroquinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin). (6) Other antibiotics such as fusidic acid, the diamidines, such as propamidine isethionate and dibrompropamidine. Syn. antibacterial. See antiinflammatory drug; fusidic acid.

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cephalosporin

Infectious disease Any of a family of broad-spectrum tetracyclic triterpene antibiotics derived from Cephalosporium spp, which are similar chemically and in mechanism of action to penicillin Indications Skin and soft tissue infections, RTIs, UTIs, STDs, meningitis, endocarditis, septicemia of unknown portal of entry, anaerobic infections, polymicrobial infections Pharmacokinetics Absorbed orally, excreted by the dustributed in tissues Adverse reactions Hypersensitivity, rash, serum sickness, acute tubular damage. See Fourth-generation cephalosporin

Cephalosporin generations

1^st

IV agents–Cephalothin, cephaloridine

2^nd

Oral agents, which had a longer half-life

3^rd

↑ antibacterial spectrum to include H influenzae, anaerobic bacteria, eg Bacteroides fragilis

4^th

Not all authors use the term ; further; ↑ antibacterial spectrum to include Pseudomonas species<</dd>

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