Cephamycin

Cephamycin is a type of antibiotic that belongs to the cephalosporin class. It is a subclass of beta-lactam antibiotics, which are characterized by their unique beta-lactam ring structure. Cephamycins are known for their resistance to certain types of beta-lactamase enzymes, which are produced by some bacteria to resist beta-lactam antibiotics.

History

Cephamycins were first discovered in the 1960s from the fungus Streptomyces cattleya. The first cephamycin to be discovered was cephamycin C, which was isolated from Streptomyces cattleya in 1962.

Types of Cephamycin

There are several types of cephamycins, including:

• Cefoxitin
• Cefotetan
• Cefmetazole

These antibiotics are used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including those caused by Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria.

Mechanism of Action

Cephamycins work by inhibiting the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. They bind to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) in the bacterial cell wall, which prevents the cross-linking of peptidoglycan chains necessary for bacterial cell wall strength and rigidity. This results in the weakening of the bacterial cell wall and eventually leads to cell lysis and death.

Resistance

Some bacteria have developed resistance to cephamycins. This is often due to the production of beta-lactamase enzymes that can inactivate the antibiotic. However, cephamycins are resistant to certain types of beta-lactamases, including those produced by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Side Effects

Like all antibiotics, cephamycins can cause side effects. These can include:

• Allergic reactions
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting

In rare cases, cephamycins can cause more serious side effects, such as Clostridium difficile infection.

See Also

• Beta-lactam antibiotic
• Cephalosporin
• Penicillin-binding protein
• Beta-lactamase

Cephamycin Resources
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