Cephalosporin

Cephalosporins are β-lactam antibiotics that kill susceptible bacteria by inhibiting cell-wall synthesis. Their generations differ in antibacterial spectrum, stability against β-lactamases, and pharmacokinetic properties.

Penicillin-binding proteins: Bacterial enzymes that build and remodel peptidoglycan in the cell wall. Cephalosporins bind these enzymes and block the cross-linking needed for a strong cell wall.
Cefazolin: A first-generation cephalosporin used for surgical prophylaxis and infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Its reliable activity against many skin bacteria makes it a common perioperative choice.
Penicillin: A β-lactam antibiotic family that inhibits bacterial cell-wall synthesis. Penicillins share cephalosporins’ target but differ in structure, spectrum, and allergy cross-reactivity.
Cephalosporin generations: A traditional grouping of cephalosporins by spectrum and development, from first through later generations. The generation framework summarizes broad shifts in Gram-negative coverage and other properties.
Giuseppe Brotzu: An Italian physician who discovered antibacterial activity in a Sardinian sewage sample in the 1940s. His observation led to the source from which cephalosporin C was isolated.
Peptidoglycan: A mesh-like polymer of sugars and peptides that gives bacterial cell walls strength. Cephalosporins weaken bacteria by preventing this wall material from being cross-linked.
Ceftriaxone: A third-generation cephalosporin with broad activity and a long duration of action. It is used for serious infections including meningitis, gonorrhea, and community-acquired pneumonia.
Carbapenem: A broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotic family that includes drugs such as meropenem. Carbapenems often retain activity against bacteria resistant to many cephalosporins.
Antibiotic spectrum: The range of microorganisms against which an antimicrobial drug is active. Cephalosporin coverage varies widely by agent and cannot be inferred from the class name alone.
Cephalosporium acremonium: A fungus now classified as Acremonium chrysogenum, known for producing cephalosporin C. This organism supplied the natural compound that founded the cephalosporin class.

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