CEPHALOSPORINS

Presented by
AFREEN NASIR
PharmD Intern
 INTRODUCTION

• Cephalosporins were first discovered by Giuseppe Brotzu in 1948.

• These are a group of semisynthetic antibiotics derived from ‘cephalosporin-C’ obtained from a fungus Cephalosporium or
Acremonium.

Class Type of action Spectrum of activity

ß-Lactam antibiotics Bactericidal Intermediate band width
MECHANISM OF ACTION
CLASSIFICATION
 PHARMACOLOGY

Generation Spectrum Pharmacokinetics Use

First • Narrow: High activity against gram +ve cocci. • Good tissue penetration Surgical prophylaxis
• Gram -ve bacteria: E. coli, Klebsiella • High stability to beta-lactamases
pneumoniae. • Low toxicity.
Second • More active against gram –ve. Wider coverage (strains resistant to 1 st Surgical prophylaxis
• Weaker than 1st gen. gram +ve. gen). RTI, UTI

Third • Active against gram –ve • Highly resistant to ß-lactamases from Meningitis
Enterobacteriaceae, Neisseria spp., H. gram -ve bacteria.
influenzae. • Good blood-brain barrier
• Less active on gram- +ve cocci, anaerobes. penetrability.
Fuorth • Similar coverage as 3rd gen. • Cefepime is highly resistant to ß- Serious, resistant
• Additional coverage against gram -ve lactamases. hospital-acquired
bacteria with antimicrobial resistance (ß- • It is broad-spectrum, penetrate CSF infections
lactamase). ( septicaemias, lower
• High potency against Enterobacteriaceae. RTI).
Fifth • MRSA, gram +ve (PR pneumococci), -ve. • Ceftaroline: Broad spectrum CAP
 ADVERSE EFFECTS & INTERACTIONS

Side effects Drug- drug interactions

• Safe and well-tolerated Aminoglycosides: increased risk for nephrotoxicity.
• Allergic reaction: life-threatening anaphylaxis. Oral anticoagulants: increased bleeding.

• Patients who have a history of allergy to penicillins or Alcohol: avoided for 72 hours after discontinuation of the drug to prevent
other ß-lactam antibiotics may be at higher risk for an disulfiram-like reaction (e.g. flushing, throbbing headache, chest pain,
allergic reaction to cephalosporins. palpitations, dyspnea, syncope, vertigo, convulsions, etc.)
• GI disturbances:

• Other:
 REFERENCE

• Tripathi KD. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. 8th ed. New Delhi: Jaypee
Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. 2019. 775-81.
Thank You