mode of action

Last reviewed 01/2018

These compounds, like penicillins, result in inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Bacterial resistance mainly results from bacterial production of beta lactimases which open the beta-lactam ring and so destroy the activity of the cephalosporin.

Note that the beta-lactam ring in cephalosporins is more stable than that found in penicillins and so cephalosporins are not necessarily ineffective if there is penicillin resistance.