Cephalosporins
Some
Drug Common Uses Potential Side
Effects
1st generation
Gastrointestinal
upset and
diarrhea*
Cefadroxil Mainly skin and soft-tissue infections Nausea
Cefazolin Given before surgical procedures to prevent Allergic
Cephalexin infections reactions (more
likely in people
allergic to
penicillin)
2nd generation
Gastrointestinal
upset and
Cefaclor diarrhea*
Cefotetan Nausea
Some respiratory infections
Cefoxitin Allergic
For cefoxitin: Abdominal infections
Cefprozil reactions (more
Cefuroxime likely in people
allergic to
penicillin)
3rd generation
* Almost any antibiotic can cause Clostridioides difficile–induced diarrhea and
inflammation of the colon (colitis), but clindamycin, penicillins, cephalosporins, and
fluoroquinolones are the most common causes.
† Ceftobiprole is not available in the United States.
Some
Drug Common Uses Potential Side
Effects
Cefdinir Gastrointestinal
Cefditoren upset and
Given by mouth: Broad coverage of many
Cefixime diarrhea*
bacteria for people with mild-to-moderate
Cefotaxime Nausea
infections, including skin and soft-tissue
Cefoperazone Allergic
infections
Cefpodoxime reactions (more
Given by injection: Serious infections (such as
Ceftazidime likely in people
meningitis or infections acquired in a hospital)
Ceftibuten allergic to
Ceftriaxone penicillin)
4th generation
Gastrointestinal
upset and
Serious infections (including Pseudomonas diarrhea*
infections), particularly in people with a weakened Nausea
Cefepime immune system, and infections due to Allergic
susceptible bacteria that are resistant to other reactions (more
antibiotics likely in people
allergic to
penicillin)
5th generation
Gastrointestinal
upset and
diarrhea*
Infections due to susceptible bacteria, such as Nausea
Ceftaroline methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA) Allergic
and Enterococcus faecalis reactions (more
likely in people
allergic to
penicillin)
* Almost any antibiotic can cause Clostridioides difficile–induced diarrhea and
inflammation of the colon (colitis), but clindamycin, penicillins, cephalosporins, and
fluoroquinolones are the most common causes.
† Ceftobiprole is not available in the United States.
Some
Drug Common Uses Potential Side
Effects
Gastrointestinal
upset and
diarrhea*
Infections due to susceptible bacteria, such as Nausea
Ceftobiprole† methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA) Allergic
and Enterococcus faecalis reactions (more
likely in people
allergic to
penicillin)
Novel cephalosporins
Gastrointestinal
upset and
Urinary tract infections due to susceptible
diarrhea*
bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella
Nausea
pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis,
Cefiderocol Allergic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter, in
reactions (more
people over 18 years of age who have limited or
likely in people
no alternative treatment options
allergic to
penicillin)
Gastrointestinal
upset and
diarrhea*
Nausea
Complicated urinary tract or abdominal
Ceftolozane Allergic
infections, or hospital-acquired pneumonia or
plus reactions (more
ventilator-associated pneumonia due to sensitive
tazobactam likely in people
organisms
allergic to
penicillin)
Kidney and liver
problems
* Almost any antibiotic can cause Clostridioides difficile–induced diarrhea and
inflammation of the colon (colitis), but clindamycin, penicillins, cephalosporins, and
fluoroquinolones are the most common causes.
† Ceftobiprole is not available in the United States.
© 2022 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
MSD MANUAL
Consumer Version
