What is the essential difference between amoxicillin and cephalosporin?

What is the difference between amoxicillin and cephalosporin?

• Before talking about the difference, let’s clarify some basic concepts. Amoxicillin is a separate drug, a semi-synthetic penicillin, and belongs to a broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotic; and cephalosporin refers to cephalosporins. Drugs, this is a big concept. In terms of generations alone, there are 1, 2, 3, and 4 generations of cephalosporins, and each generation is divided into various drugs. In terms of mechanism, cephalosporins also belong to β-lactam antibiotics, they all work by destroying the cell wall of bacteria, and can kill bacteria during the reproduction period of bacteria.
• Then these drugs are all β-lactam antibiotics, and the mechanism of action should be the same. Why are there so many drugs?
• In fact, the main difference is that the antibacterial spectrum is different. This antibacterial spectrum can be understood as the type of bacteria that the drug can effectively target. Penicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic and has a relatively wide range of targets.
• For cephalosporins, it depends on which generation of cephalosporins it is. The higher the number of cephalosporins, the higher the grade. The higher the generation number, the better. For Gram-positive bacteria, the first-generation cephalosporin works best. On the contrary, for Gram-negative bacteria, the fourth-generation cephalosporin can be used. The best effect can be obtained, while the middle 2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporins are between the two, and both have both effects. Therefore, it is difficult for the general public to choose which type of antibiotics to use and whether to use antibiotics.
• First of all, the concepts of the two are different in size. Amoxicillin belongs to a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug of the penicillin class, while cephalosporin is a general term for a class of antibacterial drugs. Conceptually, cephalosporins are a large class of drugs, and amoxicillin is a specific drug. Amoxicillin does not belong to cephalosporins, but belongs to penicillins with chemical composition similar to cephalosporins. Penicillins and cephalosporins each contain many drugs.
• Both penicillins and cephalosporins can kill bacteria, and the specific types of bacteria killed by each species are different. Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum penicillin antibacterial drug that kills many types of bacteria, but not all types of bacteria can be used for infections. When using antibacterial drugs, try to choose drugs that are specific to specific bacteria, that is, antibacterial drugs to which the bacteria are sensitive.
• Secondly, a skin test is required for the application of penicillins, and there is no mandatory requirement for the application of cephalosporins. Therefore, amoxicillin belongs to the penicillin class. If you are allergic to penicillin, you should avoid using it. Finally, the application of antibacterial drugs may produce drug resistance, so try to avoid the use of antibacterial drugs if there is no infection, and try to choose targeted antibacterial drugs when there is infection.
• The difference in action
• Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which has a strong antibacterial effect on Gram-negative bacilli. It is mainly used for the treatment of respiratory tract, urinary tract, biliary tract and other infections caused by sensitive bacteria and typhoid fever. It has a stronger effect on Helicobacter pylori. Strong, it can be used in combination with other drugs for the treatment of chronic active gastritis and peptic ulcer. Cephalosporins are divided into four generations according to their antibacterial spectrum, stability and nephrotoxicity.
• The first generation, cephradine, cefathiamidine, cefazolin, etc., have stronger effects on Gram-positive bacteria than the second and third generations, and are effective against streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus.
• The second generation, cefuroxime, cefaclor, etc., are similar to the first generation or slightly worse than the first generation on Gram-positive bacteria, have obvious effects on Gram-negative bacteria, and have nephrotoxicity compared with the first generation. reduce.
• The third generation, ceftriaxone, cefixime, etc., are not as effective against gram-positive bacteria as the first and second generations, but they are effective against gram-negative bacteria and basically non-toxic to the kidney.
• The fourth generation, cefixime, cefepime, etc., are highly effective against most gram-negative bacteria and some gram-positive bacteria. Amidase is more stable and has no nephrotoxicity.

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