Examples
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
How It Works
Cephalosporins kill bacteria.
Why It Is Used
Doctors use cephalosporins to treat pneumonia, especially in people who are severely ill and in the hospital, are older than 65, and who have other long-lasting (chronic) illnesses (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]). These antibiotics are effective against the bacteria most likely to cause pneumonia in people in these categories.
How Well It Works
In general, all antibiotics used have a high cure rate for pneumonia. For people in the hospital, cure rates are 73% to 96%. Outside of the hospital, cure rates are generally above 80%.1
Cephalosporins are effective against many types of bacteria that
cause lower
respiratory tract
infections. But some bacteria may be
resistant to them.
You most likely will see some improvement in symptoms 2 to 3 days after treatment starts with cephalosporins. In most cases, unless you get worse during that time, treatment is not changed for at least 3 days. The number of days you continue to take antibiotics depends on your illness and the type of antibiotic.
Side Effects
The most common side effects of cephalosporins are:
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Sore mouth or tongue.
- Skin rash.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Cephalosporins and amoxicillin combined with clavulanate (Augmentin) often are good choices for treating older people, especially those with long-lasting (chronic) lung diseases, such as COPD.
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new medication information form (PDF)
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References
Citations
| Author: | Ralph Poore | Last Updated: April 2, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care, Medical Toxicology | |
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