cephalosporin

ceph·a·lo·spo·rin

C0206900 (sĕf-ə-lə-spôr′ĭn)n. Any of various beta-lactam antibiotics, derived from the fungus Acremonium chrysogenum or made semisynthetically, used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections.

[New Latin Cephalosporium, former genus name (cephalo- + spora, spore; see spore) + -in.]

cephalosporin

(ˌsɛfələʊˈspɔːrɪn) n (Pharmacology) any of a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics obtained from fungi of the genus Cephalosporium

ceph•a•lo•spo•rin

(ˌsɛf ə loʊˈspɔr ɪn, -ˈspoʊr-)

n. any of a group of widely used broad-spectrum antibiotics, derived from the fungus Cephalosporium acremonium. [1950–55; < New Latin Cephalospor(ium)]

Thesaurus

Noun

cephalosporin - one of several broad spectrum antibiotic substances obtained from fungi and related to penicillin (trade names Mefoxin); addition of side chains has produced semisynthetic antibiotics with greater antibacterial activityMefoxinantibiotic, antibiotic drug - a chemical substance derivable from a mold or bacterium that can kill microorganisms and cure bacterial infections; "when antibiotics were first discovered they were called wonder drugs"cefadroxil, Ultracef - a cephalosporin antibiotic (trade name Ultracef)Cefobid, cefoperazone - a parenteral cephalosporin (trade name Cefobid) used for severe infectionscefotaxime, Claforan - a parenteral cephalosporin (trade name Claforan) used for severe infections of the lungs or throat or ears or urinary tractceftazidime, Fortaz, Tazicef - a parenteral cephalosporin (trade names Fortaz and Tazicef) used to treat moderate infectionsceftriaxone, Rocephin - a parenteral cephalosporin (trade name Rocephin) used for severe infection of the lungs or throat or ears or urinary tractCeftin, cefuroxime, Zinacef - a cephalosporin that can be given parenterally (trade name Zinacef) or orally by tablets (trade name Ceftin); indicated for infections of the lungs or throat or ears or urinary tract or meningescephalexin, Keflex, Keflin, Keftab - an oral cephalosporin (trade names Keflex and Keflin and Keftab) commonly prescribe for mild to moderately severe infections of the skin or ears or throat or lungs or urinary tractcephalothin - a semisynthetic analogue of cephalosporin

Translations

cephalosporin

(sĕf'əlōspôr`ĭn), any of a group of more than 20 antibioticsantibiotic,
any of a variety of substances, usually obtained from microorganisms, that inhibit the growth of or destroy certain other microorganisms. Types of Antibiotics
..... Click the link for more information. derived from species of fungi of the genus Cephalosporium and closely related chemically to penicillinpenicillin,
any of a group of chemically similar substances obtained from molds of the genus Penicillium that were the first antibiotic agents to be used successfully in the treatment of bacterial infections in humans.
..... Click the link for more information. . Cephalosporins, e.g., cefaclor (Ceclor), act against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (see Gram's stainGram's stain,
laboratory staining technique that distinguishes between two groups of bacteria by the identification of differences in the structure of their cell walls. The Gram stain, named after its developer, Danish bacteriologist Christian Gram, has become an important tool
..... Click the link for more information. ) by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. They are widely used to treat gonorrhea, meningitis, and staphylococcal and streptococcal infections in patients who cannot use penicillin. Overuse of cephalosporins has led to increased bacterial resistance to the drugs (see drug resistancedrug resistance,
condition in which infecting bacteria can resist the destructive effects of drugs such as antibiotics and sulfa drugs. Drug resistance has become a serious public health problem, since many disease-causing bacteria are no longer susceptible to previously
..... Click the link for more information. .)

cephalosporin

[‚sef·ə·lə′spȯr·ən] (microbiology) Any of a group of antibiotics produced by strains of the imperfect fungus Cephalosporium.

cephalosporin

[sef″ah-lo-spor´in] any of a large group of broad-spectrum antibiotics from Acremonium (formerly Cephalosporium), a genus of soil-inhabiting fungi. Cephalosporins are similar in structure and antimicrobial action to penicillin. The cephalosporins have been classified by “generations” according to general features of antimicrobial activity, with successive generations having increasing activity against gram-negative organisms and decreasing activity against gram-positive organisms.

ceph·a·lo·spo·rin

(sef'ă-lō-spōr'in), Antibiotic produced by a Cephalosporium, but after the antibiotic was discovered the name Cephalosporium was changed to Acremonium.

cephalosporin

(sĕf-ə-lə-spôr′ĭn)n. Any of various beta-lactam antibiotics, derived from the fungus Acremonium chrysogenum or made semisynthetically, used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections.

cephalosporin

Infectious disease Any of a family of broad-spectrum tetracyclic triterpene antibiotics derived from Cephalosporium spp, which are similar chemically and in mechanism of action to penicillin Indications Skin and soft tissue infections, RTIs, UTIs, STDs, meningitis, endocarditis, septicemia of unknown portal of entry, anaerobic infections, polymicrobial infections Pharmacokinetics Absorbed orally, excreted by the dustributed in tissues Adverse reactions Hypersensitivity, rash, serum sickness, acute tubular damage. See Fourth-generation cephalosporin.

Cephalosporin generations

1^st: IV agents–Cephalothin, cephaloridine
2^nd: Oral agents, which had a longer half-life
3^rd: ↑ antibacterial spectrum to include H influenzae, anaerobic bacteria, eg Bacteroides fragilis
4^th: Not all authors use the term ; further; ↑ antibacterial spectrum to include Pseudomonas species<

ceph·a·lo·spo·rin

(sef'ă-lō-spōr'in) Antibiotic produced by a Cephalosporium, but after the antibiotic was discovered the name Cephalosporium was changed to Acremonium.

cephalosporin

One of a range of antibiotics first obtained from a Cephalosporium fungus found in the sea near a sewage outflow. Their chemical structure is very similar to that of the penicillins and many semisynthetic forms have been developed. Their toxicity is low and they are effective against a wide range of organisms. Unfortunately, the spelling of cephalosporin drug names shows an apparently arbitrary distribution of ‘ceph’, ‘cep’ and ‘cef’, with a strong tendency to the latter, assisted by the recent requirement to adopt European nomenclature regulations.

antibiotic

1. Pertaining to the ability to destroy or inhibit other living organisms. 2. A substance derived from a mould or bacterium, or produced synthetically, that destroys (bactericidal) or inhibits the growth (bacteriostatic) of other microorganisms and is thus used to treat infections. Some substances have a narrow spectrum of activity whereas others act against a wide range of both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms (broad-spectrum antibiotics). Antibiotics can be classified into several groups according to their mode of action on or within bacteria: (1) Drugs inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, such as bacitracin, vancomycin and the β-lactams based agents (e.g. penicillin, cephalosporins (e.g. ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime). (2) Drugs affecting the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, such as polymyxin B sulfate and gramicidin. (3) Drugs inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, such as aminoglycosides (e.g. amikacin sulfate, framycetin sulfate, gentamicin, neomycin sulfate and tobramycin), tetracyclines, macrolides (e.g. erythromycin and azithromycin) and chloramphenicol. (4) Drugs inhibiting the intermediate metabolism of bacteria, such as sulfonamides (e.g. sulfacetamide sodium) and trimethoprim. (5) Drugs inhibiting bacterial DNA synthesis, such as nalixidic acid and fluoroquinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin). (6) Other antibiotics such as fusidic acid, the diamidines, such as propamidine isethionate and dibrompropamidine. Syn. antibacterial. See antiinflammatory drug; fusidic acid.

ceph·a·lo·spo·rin

(sef'ă-lō-spōr'in) Antibiotic produced by a Cephalosporium.

cephalosporin

Related to cephalosporin: cephalosporin C

noun

Synonyms for cephalosporin

noun one of several broad spectrum antibiotic substances obtained from fungi and related to penicillin (trade names Mefoxin)

Synonyms

Mefoxin

Related Words

antibiotic
antibiotic drug
cefadroxil
Ultracef
Cefobid
cefoperazone
cefotaxime
Claforan
ceftazidime
Fortaz
Tazicef
ceftriaxone
Rocephin
Ceftin
cefuroxime
Zinacef
cephalexin
Keflex
Keflin
Keftab
cephalothin