This is a list of common

β-lactam antibiotics β-lactam antibiotics (beta-lactam antibiotics) are antibiotics that contain a beta-lactam ring in their chemical structure. This includes penicillin derivatives (penams), cephalosporins and cephamycins (cephems), monobactams, carbapenems and ...

—both administered drugs and those not in clinical use—organized by structural class. Antibiotics are listed alphabetically within their class or subclass by their nonproprietary name. If an antibiotic is a

combination drug A combination drug or a fixed-dose combination (FDC) is a medicine that includes two or more active ingredients combined in a single dosage form. Terms like "combination drug" or "combination drug product" can be common shorthand for a FDC prod ...

, both ingredients will be listed.

Penams

Narrow-spectrum

β-lactamase-sensitive

Benzathine Benzathine is a diamine used as a component in some medications including benzathine phenoxymethylpenicillin and benzathine benzylpenicillin Benzathine benzylpenicillin, also known as benzathine penicillin G, is an antibiotic medication usef ...

benzylpenicillin Benzylpenicillin, also known as penicillin G (PenG) or BENPEN, and in military slang "Peanut Butter Shot" is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections. This includes pneumonia, strep throat, syphilis, necrotizing enterocolitis ...

(Penicillin G) *

Benzathine penicillin G Benzathine benzylpenicillin, also known as benzathine penicillin G, is an antibiotic medication useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. Specifically it is used to treat strep throat, diphtheria, syphilis, and yaws. It is a ...

* Benzathine penicillin V *

Phenoxymethylpenicillin Phenoxymethylpenicillin, also known as penicillin V (PcV) and penicillin VK, is an antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. Specifically it is used for the treatment of strep throat, otitis media, and cellulitis. ...

(penicillin V) * Procaine penicillin * Pheneticillin

β-lactamase-resistant

Cloxacillin Cloxacillin is an antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. This includes impetigo, cellulitis, pneumonia, septic arthritis, and otitis externa. It is not effective for methicillin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus ...

Dicloxacillin Dicloxacillin is a narrow-spectrum β-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class. It is used to treat infections caused by susceptible (non-resistant) Gram-positive bacteria.Product Information: DICLOXACILLIN SODIUM-dicloxacillin sodium capsule. T ...

Flucloxacillin Flucloxacillin, also known as floxacillin, is an antibiotic used to treat skin infections, external ear infections, infections of leg ulcers, diabetic foot infections, and infection of bone. It may be used together with other medications to t ...

Methicillin Methicillin (USAN), also known as meticillin (INN), is a narrow-spectrum β-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class. Methicillin was discovered in 1960. Medical uses Compared to other penicillins that face antimicrobial resistance due ...

Nafcillin Nafcillin sodium is a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class. As a beta-lactamase-resistant penicillin, it is used to treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, in particular, species of staphylococci that are res ...

Oxacillin Oxacillin (trade name Bactocill) is a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class developed by Beecham. It was patented in 1960 and approved for medical use in 1962. Medical uses Oxacillin is a penicillinase-resistant β-la ...

Temocillin Temocillin is a beta-lactamase, β-lactamase-resistant penicillin introduced by Beecham (pharmaceutical company), Beecham, marketed by Eumedica Pharmaceuticals as Negaban. It is used primarily for the treatment of multiple drug-resistant, Gram-neg ...

Broad spectrum

Amoxicillin Amoxicillin is an antibiotic medication used to treat a number of bacterial infections. These include middle ear infection, strep throat, pneumonia, skin infections, and urinary tract infections among others. It is taken by mouth, or less c ...

Ampicillin Ampicillin is an antibiotic used to prevent and treat a number of bacterial infections, such as respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis, salmonellosis, and endocarditis. It may also be used to prevent group B strepto ...

Extended spectrum (Antipseudomonal)

Mecillinam Mecillinam (INN) or amdinocillin (USAN) is an extended-spectrum penicillin antibiotic of the amidinopenicillin class that binds specifically to penicillin binding protein 2 (PBP2), and is only considered to be active against Gram-negative bacteria ...

Piperacillin Piperacillin is a broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotic of the ureidopenicillin class. The chemical structure of piperacillin and other ureidopenicillins incorporates a polar side chain that enhances penetration into Gram-negative bacteria and redu ...

Carbenicillin Carbenicillin is a bactericidal antibiotic belonging to the carboxypenicillin subgroup of the penicillins. It was discovered by scientists at Beecham and marketed as Pyopen. It has Gram-negative coverage which includes ''Pseudomonas aeruginosa'' ...

Ticarcillin Ticarcillin is a carboxypenicillin. It can be sold and used in combination with clavulanate as ticarcillin/clavulanic acid. Because it is a penicillin, it also falls within the larger class of beta-lactam antibiotics. Its main clinical use is as an ...

Carboxypenicillins

Ureidopenicillins

Azlocillin Azlocillin is an acyl ampicillin antibiotic with an extended spectrum of activity and greater ''in vitro'' potency than the carboxy penicillins. Azlocillin is similar to mezlocillin and piperacillin. It demonstrates antibacterial activity again ...

Mezlocillin Mezlocillin is a broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic. It is active against both Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria. Unlike most other extended spectrum penicillins, it is excreted by the liver, therefore it is useful for biliary tract i ...

Cephems

First generation (moderate spectrum)

Cefazolin Cefazolin, also known as cefazoline and cephazolin, is a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. Specifically it is used to treat cellulitis, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, endo ...

Cephalexin Cefalexin, also spelled cephalexin, is an antibiotic that can treat a number of bacterial infections. It kills gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria by disrupting the growth of the bacterial cell wall. Cefalexin is a beta-lactam antibio ...

Cephalosporin C Cephalosporin C is an antibiotic of the cephalosporin class. It was isolated from a fungus of the genus ''Acremonium'' and first characterized in 1961. Although not a very active antibiotic itself, synthetic analogs of cephalosporin C, such as ...

Cephalothin Cefalotin (INN) or cephalothin (USAN) is a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. It was the first cephalosporin marketed (1964) and continues to be widely used. It is an intravenously administered agent with a similar antimicrobial spec ...

Cefapirin Cefapirin (INN, also spelled cephapirin) is an injectable, first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. It is marketed under the trade name Cefadyl. Production for use in humans has been discontinued in the United States. It also has a role in ve ...

Second generation (moderate spectrum)

cefuroxime, cefaclor, cefprozil

With anti-''Haemophilus'' activity

* Cefaclor *

Cefamandole Cefamandole (INN, also known as cephamandole) is a second-generation broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. The clinically used form of cefamandole is the formate ester cefamandole nafate, a prodrug which is administered parenterally. Cef ...

Cefuroxime Cefuroxime, sold under the brand name Zinacef among others, is a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat and prevent a number of bacterial infections. These include pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media, sepsis, urinary tract infe ...

With anti-anaerobic activity

Cefotetan Cefotetan is an injectable antibiotic of the cephamycin type for prophylaxis and treatment of bacterial infections. It is often grouped together with second-generation cephalosporins and has a similar antibacterial spectrum, but with additional ...

Cefoxitin Cefoxitin is a second-generation cephamycin antibiotic developed by Merck & Co., Inc. from Cephamycin C in the year following its discovery, 1972. It was synthesized in order to create an antibiotic with a broader spectrum. It is often grouped wi ...

Third generation (broad spectrum)

Cefixime Cefixime, sold under the brand name Suprax among others, is an antibiotic medication used to treat a number of bacterial infections. These infections include otitis media, strep throat, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, and Lyme ...

Cefotaxime Cefotaxime is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections in human, other animals and plant tissue culture. Specifically in humans it is used to treat joint infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, meningitis, pneumonia, urin ...

Cefpodoxime Cefpodoxime is an oral, third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. It is active against most Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. Notable exceptions include ''Pseudomonas aeruginosa'', ''Enterococcus'', and ''Bacteroides fragilis''. Current ...

Ceftazidime Ceftazidime, sold under the brand name Fortaz among others, is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. Specifically it is used for joint infections, meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis, ...

Ceftriaxone Ceftriaxone, sold under the brand name Rocephin, is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. These include middle ear infections, endocarditis, meningitis, pneumonia, bone and joint ...

Cefdinir Cefdinir, sold under the brand name Omnicef among others, is an antibiotic used to treat pneumonia, otitis media, strep throat, and cellulitis. It is a less preferred option for pneumonia, otitis media, and strep throat which may be used in thos ...

Fourth generation (broad spectrum)

(With

β-lactamase Beta-lactamases, (β-lactamases) are enzymes () produced by bacteria that provide multi-resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins, monobactams and carbapenems ( ertapenem), although carbapenems ...

stability and enhanced activity against

Gram-positive bacteria In bacteriology, gram-positive bacteria are bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test, which is traditionally used to quickly classify bacteria into two broad categories according to their type of cell wall. Gram-positive bact ...

and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) *

Cefepime Cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. Cefepime has an extended spectrum of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with greater activity against both types of organism than third-generation agents. A 2007 ...

Cefpirome Cefpirome is a fourth-generation cephalosporin. Trade names include Cefrom, Keiten, Broact, and Cefir. Cefpirome is considered highly active against Gram-negative bacteria, including ''Pseudomonas aeruginosa'', and Gram-positive bacteria. Spectr ...

Fifth generation* (broad spectrum)

(activity against

MRSA Methicillin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus'' (MRSA) is a group of Gram-positive bacteria that are genetically distinct from other strains of ''Staphylococcus aureus''. MRSA is responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans. ...

and variably VRE. *Not universally accepted nomenclature. NO Antipseudomonal activity, mostly ceftriaxone coverage with additional MRSA and some VRE) *

Ceftaroline Ceftaroline fosamil (INN) , brand name Teflaro in the US and Zinforo in Europe, is a cephalosporin antibiotic with anti-MRSA activity. Ceftaroline fosamil is a prodrug of ceftaroline. It is active against methicillin-resistant ''Staphylococc ...

Ceftobiprole Ceftobiprole (Zevtera/Mabelio) is a fifth-generation cephalosporin for the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia (excluding ventilator-associated pneumonia) and community-acquired pneumonia. It is marketed by Basilea Pharmaceutica in the Unit ...

Carbapenems and penems

(Broadest spectrum of β-lactam antibiotics) Thienamycin

* Biapenem *

Doripenem Doripenem (Doribax, Finibax) is an antibiotic drug in the carbapenem class. It is a beta-lactam antibiotic drug able to kill ''Pseudomonas aeruginosa''. Doripenem can be used for bacterial infections such as: complex abdominal infections, pneumon ...

Ertapenem Ertapenem, sold under the brand name Invanz, is a carbapenem antibiotic medication used for the treatment of infections of the abdomen, the lungs, the upper part of the female reproductive system, and the diabetic foot. The most common side eff ...

Faropenem Faropenem is an orally active beta-lactam antibiotic belonging to the penem group. It is resistant to some forms of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. It is available for oral use. Forms Faropenem was developed by Daiichi Sankyo, Daiichi Asubio ...

Imipenem Imipenem (trade name Primaxin among others) is an intravenous β-lactam antibiotic discovered by Merck scientists Burton Christensen, William Leanza, and Kenneth Wildonger in the mid-1970s. Carbapenems are highly resistant to the β-lactamase enzy ...

Meropenem Meropenem, sold under the brand name Merrem among others, is an intravenous β-lactam antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. Some of these include meningitis, intra-abdominal infection, pneumonia, sepsis, and anthrax. Comm ...

Panipenem Panipenem (INN) is a carbapenem Carbapenems are a class of very effective antibiotic agents most commonly used for the treatment of severe bacterial infections. This class of antibiotics is usually reserved for known or suspected multidrug-res ...

Razupenem Razupenem (PTZ-601) is a broad spectrum injectable antibiotic, from the carbapenem subgroup of beta-lactam antibiotics. It was developed as a replacement drug to combat bacteria that had acquired antibiotic resistance Antimicrobial resistance ...

Tebipenem Tebipenem (brand name Orapenem) is a broad-spectrum orally-administered antibiotic, from the carbapenem subgroup of β-lactam antibiotics. It was developed as a replacement drug to combat bacteria that had acquired antibiotic resistance to com ...

Thienamycin Thienamycin (also known as thienpenem) is one of the most potent naturally produced antibiotics known thus far, discovered in '' Streptomyces cattleya'' in 1976. Thienamycin has excellent activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bact ...

Monobactams

Aztreonam Aztreonam, sold under the brand name Azactam among others, is an antibiotic used primarily to treat infections caused by gram-negative bacteria such as ''Pseudomonas aeruginosa''. This may include bone infections, endometritis, intra abdominal ...

Tigemonam Tigemonam is a monobactam antibiotic An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely us ...

Nocardicin A Nocardicin A is a monocyclic β-lactam antibiotic included in the monobactam subclass. It is obtained from the fermentation broth of a strain of actinomycetes '' Nocardia uniformis'' subsp. ''tsuyamenensis'' as a metabolic product catalyzed by th ...

Tabtoxinine β-lactam Tabtoxinine β-lactam is a monobactam antibiotic derived from tabtoxin. Unlike other beta-lactam antibiotic, β-lactam antibiotics, which inhibit penicillin-binding proteins, tabtoxinine β-lactam inhibits glutamine synthetase. References

...

(does not inhibit

penicillin-binding proteins Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) are a group of proteins that are characterized by their affinity for and binding of penicillin. They are a normal constituent of many bacteria; the name just reflects the way by which the protein was discove ...

)

β-lactamase inhibitors

Clavulanic acid Clavulanic acid is a β-lactam drug that functions as a mechanism-based β-lactamase inhibitor. While not effective by itself as an antibiotic, when combined with penicillin-group antibiotics, it can overcome antibiotic resistance in bacteria t ...

Tazobactam Tazobactam is a pharmaceutical drug that inhibits the action of bacterial β-lactamases, especially those belonging to the SHV-1 and TEM groups. It is commonly used as its sodium salt, tazobactam sodium. In simple terms, it is an ingredient t ...

Sulbactam Sulbactam is a β-lactamase inhibitor. This drug is given in combination with β-lactam antibiotics to inhibit β-lactamase, an enzyme produced by bacteria that destroys the antibiotics. It was patented in 1977 and approved for medical use in 19 ...

Avibactam Avibactam is a non-β-lactam Β-Lactamase inhibitor, β-lactamase inhibitor developed by Actavis (now Teva Pharmaceuticals, Teva) jointly with AstraZeneca. A new drug application for avibactam in Ceftazidime/avibactam, combination with ceftazidim ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Editing List of Beta-lactam antibiotics

Beta-lactam antibiotics β-lactam antibiotics (beta-lactam antibiotics) are antibiotics that contain a beta-lactam ring in their chemical structure. This includes penicillin derivatives (penams), cephalosporins and cephamycins (cephems), monobactams, carbapenems and ...