Cephalosporins

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Cephalosporins

Spectrum of activity

Generation	Example	Antimicrobial spectrum
1^st	Cephradine	Gm +ve cocci, some community acquired Gm –ve bacilli
2^nd	Cefuroxime, cefoxitin	Improved gm –ve cover compared with 1^st generation. Some agents have activity against anaerobes (eg cefoxitin)
3^rd	Ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime	Improved Gm –ve cover (cf. 2^nd generation). Gm +ve cover variable. Ceftriaxone and cefotaxime have excellent pneumococcal and modest staphylococcal cover while ceftazidime has limited Gm +ve cover (but excellent P. aeruginosa cover).
4^th	Cefepime	Excellent Gm+ve and Gm-ve cover (including P. aeruginosa)

©Charles Gomersall, October, 2009 unless otherwise stated. The author, editor and The Chinese University of Hong Kong take no responsibility for any adverse event resulting from the use of this webpage.
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