Cephalosporin antibiotic
Cephalosporin Antibiotics
Cephalosporin antibiotics (pronunciation: sef-uh-loh-spawr-in) are a class of antibiotics that are derived from the fungus Acremonium, which was previously known as Cephalosporium.
Etymology
The term "cephalosporin" originates from the Greek words "kephale", meaning "head", and "sporos", meaning "seed". This is in reference to the fungus Cephalosporium from which the antibiotics were first isolated, as the fungus has a head-like appearance.
Classification
Cephalosporin antibiotics are classified into five generations, each with varying degrees of activity against different types of bacteria. The five generations are:
- First-generation cephalosporins
- Second-generation cephalosporins
- Third-generation cephalosporins
- Fourth-generation cephalosporins
- Fifth-generation cephalosporins
Mechanism of Action
Cephalosporins work by inhibiting the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, leading to cell death. They are considered bactericidal antibiotics.
Related Terms
Side Effects
Common side effects of cephalosporins include diarrhea, nausea, rash, electrolyte disturbances, and potential allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions may include anaphylaxis.
Drug Interactions
Cephalosporins may interact with other medications, including probenecid, warfarin, and certain types of vaccines.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cephalosporin antibiotic
- Wikipedia's article - Cephalosporin antibiotic
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski