Cephalosporin, << `sehf` uh luh SPAWR ihn, >> is any of a group of widely used antibiotics. Doctors use cephalosporins to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including diseases of the respiratory system, urinary tract, bloodstream, and skin. Doctors also use cephalosporins to prevent infections following surgical procedures and to treat certain sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, some cephalosporins are used to treat certain diseases that affect the central nervous system, including some forms of meningitis.
Cephalosporins are chemically similar to penicillins, and the two types of antibiotics have many similar properties. But cephalosporins fight more kinds of bacteria than penicillins do. Doctors occasionally use cephalosporins in treating patients who are allergic to penicillins. In some patients, however, both antibiotics cause allergic reactions.
Like penicillins, cephalosporins fight bacteria by preventing the bacteria from making the rigid cell walls that they need to live. Human cells do not have rigid walls and are not damaged by the antibiotics. Also, as with penicillins, bacteria can become resistant to cephalosporins by making enzymes that break down the chemical structure of the drug.
The first cephalosporin was found in 1948. Since then, many cephalosporins have become available. They differ in the bacteria they kill and how they are absorbed by the body. One of the most commonly prescribed kinds is cephalexin.
