Keflin

Keflin is a brand name for the antibiotic drug Cephalothin, which belongs to the class of Cephalosporin antibiotics. It is a first-generation cephalosporin that was first introduced in the 1960s. Keflin is primarily used to treat bacterial infections by inhibiting the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.

History[edit | edit source]

Keflin was developed by Eli Lilly and Company, an American pharmaceutical company, and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1964. It was one of the first cephalosporin antibiotics to be introduced and was widely used in the treatment of various bacterial infections.

Medical Uses[edit | edit source]

Keflin is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including those caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. It is also effective against some gram-negative bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis. However, it is not effective against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Side Effects[edit | edit source]

Like other cephalosporins, Keflin can cause side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rash, and allergic reactions. In rare cases, it can cause serious side effects like Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) and severe allergic reactions.

Pharmacology[edit | edit source]

Keflin works by inhibiting the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls. The peptidoglycan layer is important for cell wall structural integrity. The final transpeptidation step in the synthesis of the peptidoglycan is facilitated by transpeptidases known as penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Keflin binds to these PBPs and inhibits the final transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan synthesis, resulting in cell lysis.