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List of Antibiotics

Denice Moffat

Gee, as veterinarians our list is SO much shorter for animals than for humans. Some of these are experimental but it’s sometimes nice to have a list to test from when choosing an appropriate antibiotic. 

When choosing an antibiotic (or mixing them) we want to make sure that they actually work together. For example, some antibiotics are cidal, which means they actually kill the bacteria. Other antibiotics are static (like tetracycline) which means the replication of the bacteria is stopped or slowed so that the body’s own immune system can kick in and engulf and remove the bacteria. 

Antibiotic Groups:

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Cephalosporins:  Mefoxin (one of several broad spectrum antibiotic substances obtained from beta-lactam fungi and related to penicillin (trade names Mefoxin); addition of side chains has produced semisynthetic antibiotics with greater antibacterial activity). Cephalosporins are bactericidal and have the same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics (such as penicillins. Cephalosporins mess up the building blocks (called peptidoglycans) to the bacteria’s cell wall so that it can’t make more bacteria. 

Group: 1st Generation Cephalosporins.

First generation cephalosporins have a moderate spectrum of action that do a good job of killing Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Proteus mirabilis. First Generation cephalosporins include: Cefacetrile, Cefadroxil (Duricef), Cefalexin (Keflex), Ceplaloglycin, Cefalonium, Cefaloridine, Cefalotin (Keflin), Cefapirin (Cefadryl), Cefatrizine, Cefazaflur, Cefazedone, Cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol), Cefradine (Velosef), Cefroxadine and Ceftezole. 

Group: 2nd Generation Cephalosporins.

Second-generation cephalosporins have a greater gram-negative spectrum and will also work on some gram-positive cocci. Second-generation cephalosporins include: Cefaclor (Ceclor, Distaclor, Keflor, Raniclor), Cefonicid (Monocid), Cefprozil (Cefproxil and Cefzil), Cefuroxime (Zinat,Zinacef,Ceftin, Bifuroksym) and Cefuzonam . 

Some 2nd Generation cephalosporins will also kill anerobic bacteria. These include: Cefmetazole, Cefotetan and Cefoxitin. 

Other antibiotics considered to be in this 2nd Generation group are the Carbacephems: Loracarbef (Lorabid), the Cephamycins: Cefbuperazone, Cefmetazole (Zefazone), Cefminox, Cefotetan (Cefotan) and Cefoxitin (Mefoxin) 

Group: 3rd Generation Cephalosporins.

Third-Generation Cephalosporins have broad spectrum activity—they can kill lots of bacteria including pseudomonas which is really hard to kill. These are often used to treat nosicomial infections (bacterial infections picked up in the hospital).  Third-Generation cephalosporins include: Cefcapene, Cefdaloxime, Cefdinir (Omnicef), Cefditoren, Cefetamet, Cefixime (Suprax), Cefmenoxime, Cefodizime, Cefotaxime (Claforan), Cefpimizole, Cefpodoxime (Vantin), Cefteram, Ceftibuten (Cedax), Ceftiofur, Ceftiolene, Ceftioxime (Cefizax) and Cdftiaxone. 

The 3rd Generation cephalosporins that have anti-pseudomonal activity include:  Cefoperaxone (Cefobid) and Ceftazidime (Fortum and Fortaz). 

Other antibiotics sometimes grouped in this category include the Oxacephem Latamoxef (Moxalactam). 

Group: 4th Generation Cephalosporins.

Fourth-Generation Cephalosporins are both broad spectrum and have a greater resistance to beta-lactamases which are produced by bacteria and keep the antibiotic from doing its job. These are used for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and can also cross the blood brain barrier so can be used for meningitis. The other antibiotics are very large in molecular size and would not be effective for certain things. 

Fourth-Generation Cyclosporins include Cefclidine, Cefepime (Maxipime), Cefluprenam, Cefoselis, Cefozopran, Cefpirome, and Cefquinome. The Oxacephem named Flomoxef is also in this group. 

Other Cephalosporins: There are so many different Cephalosporins that it seems the researchers can’t keep up with categorizing them!  The bacteria within our environment are constantly mutating and developing resistance (kind of like fleas and cockroaches) so we need to keep up with their mutation and find things to kill them. 

Some Cephalosporins that are still in the FDA approval process or have not been classified include: Ceftobiprole (Medocaril), Cefaclomezine, Cefaloram, Cefaparole,Cercanel, Cefedrolor, Cefempidone, Cefetrizole, Cefivitril, Cefmatilen, Cefmepidium, Cefovecin, Cefoxazole, Cefrotil, Cefsumide, Ceftioxide, Cefuracetime and Ceftobiprole (Also known as BAL 9141, BAL 5788 and RO 63-9141). 

References and Links:

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