Oral cephalosporins had been, for years, a small group of compounds be
longing to the first or second-generation cephalosporins, with a limit
ed antimicrobial spectrum. New oral first-generation cephalosporins in
clude cefprozil and loracarbef, similar to cefadroxil and cefaclor, re
spectively, with activity similar to cefaclor but with pharmacokinetic
improvements. Second-generation oral cephalosporins are esters of alr
eady available cephalosporins, and third-generation oral cephalosporin
s include a number of drugs whose activity is similar to available par
enteral drugs, showing pharmacokinetic advantages and, some of them, b
etter resistance to hydrolysis mediated by extended wide-spectrum beta
-lactamases. They may be a good alternative against mild to moderate E
NT infections, UTIs, STDs, lower respiratory tract and skin and soft t
issue infections, mainly in the outpatient setting.