antibioticsbooks

72 PART 2 Antibacterial Drugs
■■
Important Facts
• First-generation cephalosporins are good alternatives
to antistaphylococcal penicillins. They
cause less phlebitis and are infused less frequently.
Unlike antistaphylococcal penicillins,
however, they do not cross the blood–brain
barrier and should not be used in central nervous
system (CNS) infections.
• Cephalexin and cefadroxil are available orally;
the others are parenteral.
What They’re Good For
Skin and skin structure infections, surgical prophylaxis,
staphylococcal endocarditis (MSSA).
Don’t Forget!
Surgical prophylaxis is the most common indication
for first-generation cephalosporins in the
hospital. Be sure to limit the duration of therapy
for this use; administering more than one dose
of antibiotics should be the exception, and giving
more than 24 hours of antibiotics is rarely justified.
Such use does not lower infection rates, but it
can select for more resistant organisms later in the
hospital stay.