Cephalosporins for pneumonia
Examples
|
| cefaclor | |
| cefadroxil | Duricef |
| cefprozil | Cefzil |
| cefuroxime | Ceftin |
| cephalexin | Keflex |
How It Works
Cephalosporins kill bacteria.
Why It Is Used
Doctors use cephalosporins to treat
pneumonia, especially in people who are severely ill
and in the hospital, are older than 65, and who have other long-lasting
(chronic) illnesses (such as
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]). These
antibiotics are effective against the bacteria most likely to cause pneumonia
in people in these categories.
How Well It Works
In general, all antibiotics used
have a high cure rate for pneumonia caused by bacteria. Cure rates are greater
than 80%, meaning at least 80 people out of 100 are cured.1
Cephalosporins are effective against many types
of bacteria that cause lower
respiratory tract infections. But some bacteria may be
resistant to them.
You most likely will
see some improvement in symptoms 2 to 3 days after treatment starts with
cephalosporins. In most cases, unless you get worse during that time, treatment
is not changed for at least 3 days. The number of days you continue to take
antibiotics depends on your illness and the type of antibiotic.
Side Effects
The most common side effects of
cephalosporins are:
- Nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea.
- Sore mouth or tongue.
- Skin rash.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug
Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Cephalosporins and amoxicillin
combined with clavulanate (Augmentin) often are good choices for treating older
people, especially those with long-lasting (chronic) lung diseases, such as
COPD.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
References
Citations
- Loeb M (2008). Community-acquired pneumonia, search
date June 2007. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence:
http://www.clinicalevidence.com.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology |
|---|
| Last Revised | March 18, 2009 |
|---|
Last Revised:
March 18, 2009
Loeb M (2008). Community-acquired pneumonia, search
date June 2007. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence:
http://www.clinicalevidence.com.
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