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 c ...

—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 *

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 Procaine benzylpenicillin also known as penicillin G procaine, is an antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. Specifically it is used for syphilis, anthrax, mouth infections, pneumonia, diphtheria, cellulitis, an ...

* 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 ...

* Nafcillin *

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 ...

Temocillin Temocillin is a β-lactamase-resistant penicillin introduced by Beecham, marketed by Eumedica Pharmaceuticals as Negaban. It is used primarily for the treatment of multiple drug-resistant, Gram-negative bacteria. It is a 6-methoxy penicillin; ...

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 str ...

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 a ...

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 agai ...

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 tra ...

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, e ...

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 antibi ...

* Cephalosporin C * Cephalothin *

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 vete ...

Second generation (moderate spectrum)

cefuroxime, cefaclor, cefprozil

With anti-''Haemophilus'' activity

Cefaclor Cefaclor, sold under the trade name Ceclor among others, is a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat certain bacterial infections such as pneumonia and infections of the ear, lung, skin, throat, and urinary tract. It is also avail ...

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. Cefaman ...

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 inf ...

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 an ...

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 *

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, urinar ...

* Cefpodoxime * Ceftazidime *

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 join ...

* Cefdinir

Fourth generation (broad spectrum)

(With β-lactamase 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 bac ...

and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) * Cefepime * Cefpirome

Fifth generation* (broad spectrum)

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

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 Unite ...

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, pneumo ...

* Ertapenem *

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 Asubio Pharma, which ...

* Imipenem *

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. C ...

* Panipenem * Razupenem *

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 commo ...

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 * Tigemonam * Nocardicin A * Tabtoxinine β-lactam (does not inhibit penicillin-binding proteins)

β-lactamase inhibitors

* Clavulanic acid *

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 ...

Avibactam Avibactam is a non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor developed by Actavis (now Teva) jointly with AstraZeneca. A new drug application for avibactam in combination with ceftazidime (branded as Avycaz) was approved by the FDA on February 25, 2015 ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Editing List of Beta-lactam antibiotics Beta-lactam antibiotics Beta-lactam antibiotics