CEPHALOSPORINS

I associated first generation with the alphabet A.

"Alo, Azo, Adro."
CephALOthin, CefAZOlin, CefADROxil.
I associated second generation with the alphabet F.
"Fur, Fox, Fac."
CeFURoxime, CeFOXitin, CeFAClor.
I associated Third generation with the alphabet T.
"Taxi, Tizoxi, Tazidi, Triax."
CefoTAXIme, CefTIZOXIme, CefTAZIDIme.
Notice the "me" everywhere!
A comes first, next comes F and then comes T; alphabetically. So easy to recollect!
Fourth generation: "Epic Queen of pi & Rome"
Cefepime, Cefquinome, Cefpirome.

The route of administration for cephalosporins can be either parenteral or oral.

Parenteral: Cef/Ceph with tin, thin, z or pi

Oral: Others

To recognize drugs in each generations, we will proceed this way:

A. 4th generation:

With pi: Cefepime, Cefepirome

B. 2nd generation:
FURy FOX FOR FON TEA and 2 Ms for a Macho fox

ceFURoxime, ceFOXitine, ceFORanide, ceFONicid, cefoTEtan

cefMandole, cefMetazole

Remember one more drug: Cefaclor

C. 1st generation:
2 Xs and 1 Z in Dine

2 X cefalexin, cefadroxil

1 Z cefazolin
2 IN cefalathin, cefaparin

DINE Cephradine

D. 3rd generation:
cef +/- (a,e,i,o,u) + p/d/t

cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefoperazone

cefixime, cefpodoxime, cefdinir, ceftibuten, ceftamet

E. 5th generation:

With ro: ceftobiprole, ceftaroline

Short review of pharmacology of cephalosporins:

A. Class: Beta-lactams (like Penicillin)
B. Mechanism of action: Disrupt sythesis of peptidoglycan of cell wall
C. Spectrum of activity:
1.
1st generation: Mainly Gram+
Gram (PEcK): Proteus, E.Coli, Klebsiella
2.

2nd generation: Gram- > Gram+

HEN PEcKS: Haemophilus influenzae, Enterobacter, Neissera, Proteus, E.
Coli, Klebsiella, Serratia

3.

3rd generation: Gram >> Gram +

Ceftriaxone: Meningitis, Gonorrhea
Ceftazidime: Pseudomonas
Used to treat meningitis and sepsis (can cross Blood Brain Barrier)

4.

4th generation: Pseudomonas

5.
5th generation: MRSA
Cephalosporins dont have activity against: LAME
Listeria
Atypicals (including Mycoplasma and Chlamydia)
MRSA (Except 5th generation)
Enterococci
Adverse effects:
1.
Thrombophlebitis (Parenteral)
2.
3.

Diarrhea
Anaphylaxis

4.
5.

Nephrotoxicity (highest with Cephaloridine)

Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia

6.

Disulfiram like reaction (-dole/-zole/-tan/-zone)

Mnemonic: DDT HAPeNS

D diarrhea
D disulfiram like reaction
T thrombophlebitis
H hypoprothrombinemia
A allergy (hypersensitivity)
P pain (severe with i.m.)
N nephrotoxicity
S super infections with fungi