Cephamycin

Core structure of the cephamycins.

Cephamycins are a group of beta-lactam antibiotics. They are very similar to cephalosporins, and the cephamycins are sometimes classified as cephalosporins.

Like cephalosporins, cephamycins are based upon the cephem nucleus. Unlike most cephalosporins, cephamycins are a very efficient antibiotic against anaerobic microbes.

Cephamycins were originally produced by Streptomyces, but synthetic ones have been produced as well.

Cephamycins possess a methoxy group at the 7-alpha position.^[1]

In addition, cephamycins have been shown to be stable against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) -producing organisms, although their use in clinical practice is lacking for this indication.

Examples

Cephamycins include:

• Cefoxitin^[2]
• Cefotetan^[3]
• Cefmetazole^[4]

References

1. Oreste A. Mascaretti (2003). Bacteria Versus Antibacterial Agents: An Integrated Approach. American Society Microbiology. p. 144. ISBN 1-55581-258-9.
2. Little PJ, Peddie BA (July 1978). "Clinical use of cefoxitin, a new semisynthetic cephamycin". N. Z. Med. J. 88 (616): 46–9. PMID 279853.
3. Clarke AM, Zemcov SJ (January 1983). "Antibacterial activity of the cephamycin cefotetan: an in-vitro comparison with other beta-lactam antibiotics". J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 11. Suppl: 67–72. doi:10.1093/jac/11.suppl_A.67. PMID 6404881.
4. Benlloch M, Torres A, Soriano F (October 1982). "Cefmetazole (CS-1170): a new cephamycin with activity against gram-negative bacilli and staphylococci". J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 10 (4): 347–50. doi:10.1093/jac/10.4.347. PMID 6958672.