Cephalosporins are a large group of highly active antibiotics, the first of which were discovered in the middle of the 20th century. Since then, many other antimicrobial agents of this group have been discovered, and their semisynthetic derivatives have been synthesized. Therefore, at the moment, five generations of cephalosporins are classified.
The main effect of these antibiotics is to damage the cell membranes of bacteria, which subsequently leads to their death. Cephalosporins are used to treat infections caused by gram-negative bacteria, as well as Gram-positive bacteria, if antibiotics from the penicillin group were found to be inactive.
There are preparations from the group of cephalosporins for both oral and injectable administration. In the form of tablets, cephalosporins belonging to 1, 2 and 3 generations are released, and the 4th and 5th generations of antibiotics of this group are intended exclusively for parenteral administration. This is because not all drugs related to cephalosporins are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. As a rule, antibiotics in tablets are prescribed for mild infections for therapy on an outpatient basis.
List of antibiotics of the cephalosporin group in tablets
Consider what cephalosporins can be used orally, while dividing them according to the generations.
Cephalosporins 1 generation in tablets
These include:
- Cephalexin;
- Cefadroxil.
These drugs are characterized by a narrow spectrum of effects, as well as a low level of activity against gram-negative bacteria. In most cases, they are recommended for the treatment of uncomplicated infections of the skin, soft tissues, bones, joints and ENT organs caused by streptococci and staphylococci. In this case, for the treatment of sinusitis and otitis, these medications are not prescribed because they very poorly penetrate into the middle ear and into the nasal sinuses.
The main difference of Cephadroxil from Cephalexin is that the latter is characterized by a longer period of action, which allows you to reduce the frequency of medication. In some cases, at the beginning of treatment, cephalosporins of the 1st generation in the form of injections can be administered with a further transition to the tablet form.
Cephalosporins 2 generations in tablets
Among the drugs of this subgroup:
- Cefaclor;
- Cefuroxime axetil.
The spectrum of second-generation cephalosporin activity against gram-negative bacteria is wider than that of the first generation. These tablets can be administered with:
- Infectious-inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, chronic bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia);
- infectious diseases of the urinary tract;
- non-severe skin infections, bacterial lesions of soft tissues, bones and joints.
Due to the fact that Cefaclor can not create high concentrations in the middle ear, it is not used for acute otitis media, and Cefuroxime axetil can be used in this case. In this case, the antibacterial spectrum of both drugs is similar, but Cefaclor is less active in relation to pneumococci and a hemophilic rod.
Cephalosporins 3 generations in tablets
The third generation of cephalosporins include:
- Cefixime;
- Ceftibuten.
Features of these drugs are:
- higher activity in relation to enterobacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- excellent pharmacokinetic properties;
- good penetration into the tissue.
These antibiotics are prescribed most often when:
- chronic bronchitis caused by a hemophilic rod and morocell;
- urinary tract infections caused by multiresistant flora.
Cefixime is also prescribed for gonorrhea and shigellosis.