Cephamycin Explained

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

Like cephalosporins, cephamycins are based upon the cephem nucleus. Unlike most cephalosporins, cephamycins are a very efficient antibiotic against anaerobic microbes.

Cephamycins were originally produced by Streptomyces, but synthetic ones have been produced as well.

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.

Examples

Cephamycins include:

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

Notes and References

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