I.

Title: Comparison of the Antibiotic Effects of Innovator and Generic brands of Cephalexin
against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

II. Background:
Cephalexin is a first-generation cephalosporin, which has good activity against Gram(+)
bacteria and moderate activity against Gram(-) microorganisms. S. aureus is a bacterial
pathogen that causes many diseases and is common in the community as well as hospital
settings1. A study in 20182 showed that S. aureus is one of the most commonly occurring
pathogens in a tertiary hospital here in the Philippines. These Gram-positive bacteria is present
as normal flora in our skin and mucous membranes, however, it can cause severe infections
when it enters the bloodstream3.
In the study conducted by the Department of Health as cited by Batangan and Juban
(2009), cephalexin ranks third in the list of the most frequently reported household
antibacterials, in the Philippines, that are prescribed mostly by nurses and doctors. The drug is
also found to be moderately available in pharmacies as surveyed by the Health Action
Framework (2009) with 21-50% available in the public, and is available mostly as generic rather
than originator-brand form with 1-20% and 51-80% availability as originator brand and generic
form, respectively.

III. Objectives:
a. General Objective
This study aims to compare the antibiotic effects of innovator and generic brands of
cephalexin against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa using disc diffusion method.
b. Specific Objectives
Specifically, this study aims to:
1. Determine the antibiotic effect of the innovator brand of cephalexin against S. aureus
and P. aeruginosa.
2. Determine the antibiotic effect of the generic brands of cephalexin against S. aureus and
P. aeruginosa.
3. Compare the antibiotic effects of the innovator brand and the generic brands using zone
of inhibition.

IV. Significance:

This study may be able to provide baseline data on the antibiotic effects of the innovator
in comparison to generic brands of cephalexin against gram-positive and gram-negative
bacteria. The use of branded drugs is favored by many patients over their generics
counterparts; such preference is primarily influenced by the notion that generics gives less
effective and guaranteed outcomes than their branded counterparts. This study may be able to
explain to laypersons the efficacy of branded and generic drugs and to possibly clarify their
misconceptions.

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References:
1. Taylor TA, Unakal CG. Staphylococcus Aureus. Treasure Island, Florida:
StatPearls Publishing; 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441868/.
Accessed September 22, 2019.
2. Ramos RR, Paglinawan L. Common Bacterial Pathogens and their Antimicrobial
Susceptibility in a Tertiary Hospital in the Philippines. The Philippine Journal of
Nursing. 2018;78(2):3-15.
3. Rasigade J-P, Vandenesch F. Staphylococcus aureus: A pathogen with still
unresolved issues. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2014;21:510-514.
doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2013.08.018.

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