Sketchy Pharm: Cephalosporins Flashcards
What are the first-generation cephalosporins?
Cephalexin and cefazolin (the general wearing a FeZ and FLEXing)
What bacteria and infections can be treated with first-generation cephalosporins?
Mostly Gram-positive infections, with abscesses, Strep throat, and cellulitis being commonly treated
(Think of the purple models on the table in front of the flexing general, his bandana, and his red patches.)
They can also treat UTIs from Proteus, E. coli, and Klebsiella (like the bladder drink he’s holding labeled “PEK”)
Cefazolin is commonly used for ______________.
surgical prophylaxis (like the bloody surgical tools behind the fez hat)
What are the second-generation cephalosporins?
Cefotetan, cefuroxime, and cefoxitin
The second general is drinking TEa, pounding the table FURiously, and his name is FOX.
What bacteria are the second-generation cephalosporins effective against?
All of the first-generation ones, with the addition of H. influenzae, Neisseria, and Serratia
(The mnemonic is HeNS, and the tea that General Fox is drinking has HENS on the pot.)
What are the third-generation cephalosporins?
Cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and ceftriaxone
The third general –General Taz – has three axes on his back.
What are the third-generation cephalosporins used for?
Meningitis (because they penetrate the CSF) and pneumonia
In particular, they have wide Gram-negative coverage: they can kill H. influenzae (represented by the H. Influenzae flyer above General Taz) and cefotazidime can kill Pseudomonas (represented by the Mona Lisa as cephalopod behind General Taz)
True or false: third-generation cephalosporins can kill MRSA.
False.
What is represented by General Taz’s armor?
That third-generation cephalosporins can kill Streptococcus pneumoniae (and even Strep. viridans)
What is the only fourth-generation cephalosporin?
Cefepime (represented by General PrIME)
Cefepime is excellent at killing _____________.
Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms –including Pseudomonas (which is why General PrIME is also next to Mona)
What is the fifth-generation cephalosporin?
Ceftaroline (represented by General TARa)
What is important to know about ceftaroline?
It is broad spectrum (shown by the prism on General Tara’s necklace) and it is the only cephalosporin that can kill MRSA (shown by Tara knocking over the Vader statue).
Which cephalosporin can kill Borrelia burgdoferi?
The third-generation (like the Robin of Ixodes poster that General Taz is holding)
