Cephamycin

Cephamycins are a group of β-lactam antibiotics. They are very similar to cephalosporins, and the cephamycins are sometimes classified as cephalosporins.

Core structure of the cephamycins.

Like cephalosporins, cephamycins are based upon the cephem nucleus. Unlike most cephalosporins, cephamycins are a very efficient antibiotic against anaerobic microbes.^{[citation needed]}

Cephamycins were originally produced by Streptomyces, but synthetic ones have been produced as well.^{[citation needed]}

Cephamycins possess a methoxy group at the 7-alpha position.^[1]

In addition, cephamycins have been shown to be stable against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms, although their use in clinical practice is lacking for this indication.^{[citation needed]}

Examples

Cephamycins include:

• Cefoxitin^[2]
• Cefotetan^[3]
• Cefmetazole^[4]

References

1. Oreste A. Mascaretti (2003). Bacteria Versus Antibacterial Agents: An Integrated Approach. American Society Microbiology. p. 144. ISBN 1-55581-258-9.
2. Little PJ, Peddie BA (July 1978). "Clinical use of cefoxitin, a new semisynthetic cephamycin". N. Z. Med. J. 88 (616): 46–9. PMID 279853.
3. Clarke AM, Zemcov SJ (January 1983). "Antibacterial activity of the cephamycin cefotetan: an in-vitro comparison with other beta-lactam antibiotics". J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 11. Suppl: 67–72. doi:10.1093/jac/11.suppl_A.67. PMID 6404881.
4. Benlloch M, Torres A, Soriano F (October 1982). "Cefmetazole (CS-1170): a new cephamycin with activity against gram-negative bacilli and staphylococci". J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 10 (4): 347–50. doi:10.1093/jac/10.4.347. PMID 6958672.