Use of antibiotics. Cephalosporins.

The availability of six cephalosporins, all with somewhat similar properties (not to mention names), is confusing to the clinician who is attempting to choose the best antibiotic for his patient, as well as for the bacteriologist who is trying to report the susceptibility of a particular organism to these drugs. The position is likely to become even more confusing as three or four more may be marketed in the near future. I will discuss the general properties of this group of drugs and then comment on the individual preparations. The marketed antibiotics are cephaloridine (Ceporin), cephalothin (Keflin), cephalexin (Ceporex and Keflex), cephradine (Velosef and Eskacef), cephazolin (Kefzol), and cefuroxime (Zinacef). Cefamandole (Kefadol), cefoxitin (Mefoxin), and cefaclor should appear soon.