ORAL CEPHALOSPORINS - CURRENT PERSPECTIVES

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.