If you’re a middle aged person then you have probably been to the doctor at least a dozen times in your life for routine check ups and to treat those symptoms that make you feel a little “under the wheather.” In all the time you have been receiving medications you have probably received medication that is classified as a cephalosporin. This might not mean anything to you but this class of drugs is one of the most important drug classes in the world and it has been around forever.

Cephalosporin’s were first discovered in 1948 by an Italian scientist. He noticed that certain cultures were good in treating the condition typhoid fever. However it was not good enough for use as an antibiotic until years later. Since then it has become one of the more popular drugs in the world.

So how does a cephalosporin work? They disrupt the synthesis of peptidoglycan in the layer of bacterial cell walls. The peptidoglycan is a very important layer when it comes to the integrity of the cell wall and its structure. Now cephalosporins are used for the treatment of infections that are caused by certain bacterias susceptible to a particular form of antibiotic. It is used to treat staph infections, pneumonia and other bacteria infections. It is a wonder drug of sorts and it has arrived in different generations as well.

The is the first generation which consisted of cephazolin, cefadroxil, cephalexin, and cephradine. Then the second generation came around and that itself consisted of cephaclor, cefuroxime, cefprozil, and loracerbef. The third, and most current(beyond the fourth proposed generation) came along as the strongest of the generations. It contained ceftotaxime, cefixime, cefpodoxime, ceftazidime, and cefdinir(which is a drug usually given to infants.)

These drugs are some of the most widely prescribed drugs on the planet. There is however, and allergic reaction potential to them. If you happen to have an allergy to penicillin then you may have an allergy to a cephalosporin but if you don’t then you can look for them the next time you get sick with anything.