Cephalosporins Flashcards
Mechanisms of Resistance
- β-lactamase
- ↓ penetration through cell membrane
- Efflux
- Alteration of PBP
1 st Generation Cephalosporins
Parenteral
All cephalosporins have b lactam ring and the other ring
2 side chains
R1 on specturm of acitivity
R2 alter pharmacology, prolong half life
• Cephalothin (Keflin®) - t 1/2 0.6 hr - q 4 - 6 h dosing - Painful IM - Best staphylococcal coverage Not seen anymore
• Cefazolin (Ancef®)
- t 1/2 1.9 hr
- q8h dosing
- less painful IM
- Better Gram negative activity
1 st Generation Cephalosporins
Oral
• Cephalexin (Keflex®)
- t 1/2 0.5-1.2 hr
- q6h dosing
- 90% absorbed
- Better staphylococcal coverage
• Cefadroxil (Duricef®)
- t 1/2 1.3-1.6 hr
- q12h dosing
- Almost completely absorbed
- Better Gram negative coverage
1 st Generation Cephalosporins
Spectrum of Activity
• Increased stability to β-lactamases produced by
methicillin-susceptible Staphylococci (MSSA, MSSE)
• Not active against MRSA
• Moderately active against Streptococci
(poor activity against PRSP)
- Not active against enterococci
- Poor activity against Listeria
• Not active against M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae, or
Legionella
1 st Generation Cephalosporins
Spectrum of Activity
Relative to ampicillin
- Improved activity against MSSA
- Reduced activity against S. pneumoniae
- No activity against Enterococci
- Reduced activity against Listeria
- Similar/less activity against H. influenzae
• Improved activity against E. coli, Proteus mirabilis, K.
pneumoniae
2 nd Generation Cephalosporins
Spectrum of Activity
• Less activity than 1 st generation cephalosporins
against S. aureus and broader activity against Gram
negative organisms
- Greater activity against some cefazolin-resistant
E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus mirabilis
• Cephalosporin group (cefuroxime) more active against
H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae than 1 st generation
• Cephamycins (Cefoxitin) active against B. fragilis
• No activity against Enterococci, Mycoplasma,
Chlamydia, or Legionella (as with all* cephalosporins)
2 nd Generation Cephalosporins
Cefuroxime (Zinacef®)
• Penetrates somewhat into CSF (initially recommended
for meningitis, but failures reported)
- t 1/2 1.2 -1.8 hr
- q8h dosing
• “Claim to fame” more resistant to β-lactamases
produced by H. influenzae
• concerns with intermediate and highly resistant
S. pneumoniae
2 nd Generation Cephalosporins
Cefuroxime axetil (Ceftin®)
- Oral ester of cefuroxime
- Hydrolyzed to cefuroxime after absorption
• 30 - 50% bioavailability (absorption increased with
food)
- t 1/2 1.2 hours
- BID dosing
• concerns with intermediate and highly resistant
S. pneumoniae
• (available as tablets and suspension 125 mg/5mL)
2 nd Generation Cephalosporins
Cefprozil (Cefzil®)
• Similar activity to cefuroxime
• Relatively good activity against S. pneumoniae (not as
good as cefuroxime)
- Good side effect profile
- Only available orally
- BID dosing
2 nd Generation Cephalosporins
Relative activity against S. pneumoniae
• Ampicillin / Amoxicillin > Cefuroxime > Cefprozil >
Cefixime* > Cephalexin*
• Cefixime or cephalexin not recommended if
S. pneumoniae resistance suspected or in treatment
of otitis media
2 nd Generation Cephalosporins
Cefoxitin (Mefoxin®)
• Active against Bacteroides fragilis
• More active than 1st generation against E. coli,
Klebsiella, Indole + & - Proteus, and Serratia
• Less active than cefazolin and cefuroxime against
Gram-positives and less active than cefuroxime
against H. influenzae
• Usually stable against Extended Spectrum
β-Lactamases (ESBL) (→ not AmpC, though)
- t 1/2 0.8 hr
- q6-8h dosing
3 rd Generation Cephalosporins
Cefotaxime (Claforan®)
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin®)
Spectrum of Activity
• Moderate activity against methicillin-susceptible
staphylococci, not effective against MRSA
• Good activity against Streptococci (was excellent)
- Resistance has been a concern with
S. pneumoniae
- UAH ceftriaxone 6% (2008); 12% (2019)(meningeal)
2% (2008); 4% (2019) (non-meningeal)
• Good activity against N. gonorrhoeae (especially
ceftriaxone)
• Poor activity against enterococci, M. pneumoniae,
C. pneumonia, and Listeria, as with all* cephalosporins
• 10-100x more activity against M. catarrhalis, H.
influenzae, E. coli, P. mirabilis, K. pneumoniae than 1 st
and 2 nd generation cephalopsorins
• Improved Gram-negative coverage, but not effective
against Pseudomonas (some variable e.g.,
Enterobacter)
3 rd Generation Cephalosporins
Cefotaxime (Claforan®)
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin®)
Problems with Resistance
Problems with Resistance
Inactivated by:
• Extended spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs)
(predominantly found in E. coli, Klebsiella)
• Use of cefotaxime/ceftriaxone to treat AmpC producing
‘SPICE A’ organisms may induce AmpC ß-lactamase
production during therapy (may result in clinical failure
despite in vitro susceptibility)
• Therefore not recommended for the treatment of ‘SPICE A’ organisms Serratia Providencia Indole-positive Proteus (e.g., P. vulgaris) Citrobacter Enterobacter Acinetobacter
3 rd Generation Cephalosporins
Cefotaxime (Claforan®)
- penetrates CSF well
- primarily excreted renally
• t 1/2 1 hr • active metabolite desacetylcefotaxime - 1/4 - 1/8 as active as parent - synergistic with parent - Effect of increasing t 1/2 to 1.5 hr • q8-12h dosing
3 rd Generation Cephalosporins
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin®)
• Adequate levels in CSF
• 40% excreted in biliary tract - (may cause biliary
sludge or pseudolithiasis with high doses)
- t 1/2 6.4-8 hours
- q12-24h dosing
• (no dose adjustment required in severe renal or
hepatic failure due to compensation of renal / biliary
excretion )