Cephalosporin Antibiotics
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Overview
Beta-lactam antibiotics structurally and pharmacologically related to penicillins. Cephalosporins are classified into five generations based on their spectrum of antimicrobial activity, with first-generation agents like cephalexin primarily targeting gram-positive organisms.
How do cephalosporin antibiotics work?
Cephalosporins bind to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) on the bacterial cell wall, inhibiting the transpeptidase enzyme that catalyzes the final cross-linking step in peptidoglycan synthesis. This weakens the cell wall structure, leading to osmotic instability and bacteriolysis. Like other beta-lactams, they exhibit time-dependent bactericidal activity.
Drugs in this class
- Cephalexin (Keflex, Biocef)