Cephalosporins are one of the most widely prescribed antimicrobial

drugs. They can be classified into 5 to generations and the medical

students often have hard time remembering the names of drugs
falling into different generations as the names appear and sound
similar. This is a collection of mnemonics from different sources.

The route of administration for cephalosporins can be either

parenteral or oral.
Parenteral: Cef/Ceph with tin, thin, z or pi
Oral: Others
To recognize drugs in each generations, we will proceed this way:
A. 4th generation:
With pi: Cefepime, Cefepirome

B. 2nd generation:
FURy FOX FOR FON TEA and 2 Ms for a Macho fox
ceFURoxime, ceFOXitine, ceFORanide, ceFONicid, cefoTEtan

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

1
2
3

cefMandole, cefMetazole
Remember one more drug: Cefaclor
C. 1st generation:
2 Xs and 1 Z in Dine
2 X cefalexin, cefadroxil
1 Z cefazolin
2 IN cefalathin, cefaparin
DINE Cephradine
D. 3rd generation:
cef +/- (a,e,i,o,u) + p/d/t
cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefoperazone
cefixime, cefpodoxime, cefdinir, ceftibuten, ceftamet
E. 5th generation:
With ro: ceftobiprole, ceftaroline
Short review of pharmacology of cephalosporins:
A. Class: Beta-lactams (like Penicillin)
B. Mechanism of action: Disrupt sythesis of peptidoglycan of cell wall
C. Spectrum of activity:
1st generation: Mainly Gram+
Gram (PEcK): Proteus, E.Coli, Klebsiella
2nd generation: Gram- > Gram+
HEN PEcKS: Haemophilus
influenzae, Enterobacter, Neissera, Proteus, E.
Coli, Klebsiella, Serratia
3rd generation: Gram >> Gram +
Ceftriaxone: Meningitis, GonorrheaCeftazidime: PseudomonasUsed
to treat meningitis and sepsis (can cross Blood Brain Barrier)
4th generation: Pseudomonas
5th generation: MRSA
Cephalosporins dont have activity against: LAME
Listeria
Atypicals (including Mycoplasma and Chlamydia)
MRSA (Except 5th generation)
Enterococci
Adverse effects:
Thrombophlebitis (Parenteral)
Diarrhea
Anaphylaxis

4
5
6

Nephrotoxicity (highest with Cephaloridine)

Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia
Disulfiram like reaction (-dole/-zole/-tan/-zone)
Mnemonic: DDT HAPeNS
D diarrhea
D disulfiram like reaction
T thrombophlebitis
H hypoprothrombinemia
A allergy (hypersensitivity)
P pain (severe with i.m.)
N nephrotoxicity
S super infections with fungi
Submitted by Sulabh Shrestha