List of β-lactam antibiotics

This is a list of common β-lactam antibiotics—both administered drugs and those not in clinical use—organized by structural class. Antibiotics are listed alphabetically within their class or subclass by their nonproprietary name. If an antibiotic is a combination drug, both ingredients will be listed.

Penams

Narrow-spectrum

β-lactamase-sensitive

β-lactamase-resistant

Broad spectrum

Extended spectrum (Antipseudomonal)

Carboxypenicillins

Ureidopenicillins

Cephems

First generation (moderate spectrum)

Second generation (moderate spectrum)

cefuroxime, cefaclor, cefprozil

With anti-Haemophilus activity

With anti-anaerobic activity

Third generation (broad spectrum)

Fourth generation (broad spectrum)

(With β-lactamase stability and enhanced activity against Gram-positive bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa)

Fifth generation* (broad spectrum)

(activity against MRSA and variably VRE. *Not universally accepted nomenclature. NO Antipseudomonal activity, mostly ceftriaxone coverage with additional MRSA and some VRE)

Ceftaroline, Ceftobiprole

Carbapenems and penems

(Broadest spectrum of β-lactam antibiotics)

Monobactams

Aztreonam
Tigemonam
Nocardicin A
Tabtoxinine β-lactam (does not inhibit penicillin-binding proteins)

β-lactamase inhibitors

Antibacterials active on the cell wall and envelope (J01C-J01D)

Beta-lactams
(inhibit synthesis
of peptidoglycan
layer of bacterial
cell wall by binding
to and inhibiting
PBPs, a group of
D-alanyl-D-alanine
transpeptidases)

Penicillins (Penams)

Narrow
spectrum

β-lactamase sensitive (1st generation)	Benzylpenicillin (G)^# Benzathine benzylpenicillin^# Procaine benzylpenicillin^# Phenoxymethylpenicillin (V)^# Propicillin^‡ Pheneticillin^‡ Azidocillin^‡ Clometocillin^‡ Penamecillin^‡
β-lactamase resistant (2nd generation)	Cloxacillin^# (Dicloxacillin Flucloxacillin) Oxacillin Nafcillin Methicillin^‡

Extended
spectrum

Aminopenicillins (3rd generation)	Amoxicillin^# Ampicillin^# (Pivampicillin Hetacillin^‡ Bacampicillin^‡ Lenampicillin Metampicillin^‡ Talampicillin^‡) Epicillin^‡
Carboxypenicillins (4th generation)	Ticarcillin Carbenicillin^‡ / Carindacillin^‡ Temocillin^‡
Ureidopenicillins (4th generation)	Piperacillin Azlocillin^‡ Mezlocillin^‡
Other	Mecillinam (Pivmecillinam) Sulbenicillin^‡

Carbapenems / Penems

Cephems
Cephalosporins
Cephamycins
Carbacephems

1st generation	Cefazolin^# Cefalexin ^# Cefadroxil Cefapirin Cefazedone^‡ Cefazaflur^‡ Cefradine^‡ Cefroxadine^‡ Ceftezole^‡ Cefaloglycin^‡ Cefacetrile^‡ Cefalonium^‡ Cefaloridine^‡ Cefalotin Cefatrizine^‡
2nd generation	Cefaclor Cefprozil Cefuroxime Cefuroxime axetil Cefamandole^‡ Cefonicid^‡ Ceforanide^‡ Cefuzonam^‡ Cephamycin (Cefoxitin Cefotetan Cefminox^‡ Cefbuperazone^‡ Cefmetazole^‡) Carbacephem (Loracarbef^‡)
3rd generation	Cefixime^# Ceftriaxone^# Cefotaxime^# Antipseudomonal (Ceftazidime^# Cefoperazone) Cefdinir Cefcapene Cefdaloxime Ceftizoxime Cefmenoxime Cefpiramide Cefpodoxime Ceftibuten Cefditoren Cefotiam^‡ Cefetamet^‡ Cefodizime^‡ Cefpimizole^‡ Cefsulodin^‡ Cefteram^‡ Ceftiolene^‡ Oxacephem (Flomoxef Latamoxef^‡)
4th generation	Cefepime Cefozopran^‡ Cefpirome Cefquinome^‡
5th generation	Ceftaroline fosamil Ceftolozane Ceftobiprole
Siderophore	Cefiderocol^#
Veterinary	Ceftiofur Cefquinome Cefovecin

Monobactams

β-lactamase inhibitors

Combinations

Polypeptides

Glycopeptides Lipoglycopeptides	Inhibit PG chain elongation: Vancomycin^# (Oritavancin Telavancin) Teicoplanin (Dalbavancin) Ristocetin^‡ Avoparcin Inhibit autolysin: Corbomycin (not approved)
Lipopeptides	Insert into bacterial cell wall causing perforation and depolarization: Daptomycin Surfactin
Polymyxins	Bind to LPS in the outer bacterial membrane, acting in detergent-like fashion: Colistin Polymyxin B
Other	Inhibits PG elongation and crosslinking: Ramoplanin^§

Intracellular

Inhibit PG subunit synthesis and transport: NAM synthesis inhibition (Fosfomycin)
DADAL/AR inhibitors (Cycloserine)
bactoprenol inhibitors (Bacitracin)

Other

^#WHO-EM
^‡Withdrawn from market
Clinical trials:
- ^†Phase III
- ^§Never to phase III

List of β-lactam antibiotics

Penams

Narrow-spectrum

β-lactamase-sensitive

β-lactamase-resistant

Broad spectrum

Extended spectrum (Antipseudomonal)

Carboxypenicillins

Ureidopenicillins

Cephems

First generation (moderate spectrum)

Second generation (moderate spectrum)

With anti-Haemophilus activity

With anti-anaerobic activity

Third generation (broad spectrum)

Fourth generation (broad spectrum)

Fifth generation* (broad spectrum)

Carbapenems and penems

Monobactams

β-lactamase inhibitors

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