Cephalosporin Romano, A. Et.al. (2004).

Cephalosporin

Romano, a. et.al. (2004). "Cross-Reactivity and Tolerability of Cephalosporins in Patients with Immediate Hypersensitivity to Penicillins." Annals of Internal Medicines, 141 (1): 16-22.

The antibiotic group, Cephalosporins, are a class of lactam antibiotics originally isolated from cultures of acremonium from refuse in Sardinia in 1948, just post World War II by Giuseppe Brotzu. Brotzu noticed that these cultures produced substances that appeared to be effective against the bacteria that caused typhoid fever. At this point in medical history, antibiotics were in great need and part of the medical world's most researched topics. Further study of the Cephalosporins found that the mechanism and efficacy were somewhat analogous to penicillin, but in some specific ways, a bit more powerful (Podolsky, 1998).

Like penicillin, the cephalosporin class is used for the treatment of bacterial infections. First-generation cephalosporins were predominately active against Gram-positive bacteria, but successive generations and improvement have increased activity against Gram-negative bacteria, but unfortunately with the effect of reduced Gram-positive actions. In addition, one of the most positive effects of the cephalosporins has been for people who are allergic, sensitive, or do not tolerate penicillin (Dash, 1975, 107-8).

Allergic reactions to penicillin are quite common (some estimates indicate 20-26% of the population). The class of Cephalosporins tend to aggressive fight similar pathogens. As might be expected, the chemical structure of penicillin and the Cephalosporins is quite similar, which unfortunately means that for a certain element of the population, those who are sensitive or allergic to penicillin are also sensitive of allergic to Cephalosporin. What many medical professionals did not know, though, is what the frequency of the population who were allergic to both penicillin and cephalosporin.

The importance of the study on review is that as late as the early 21st century, there was no statistical frequency analysis for the Cephalosporins. To remedy this, the study tested 128 patients using a skin sensitivity method, and found that 14, or about 12% of the tested population, showed signs of sensitivity. Unfortunately, 22 patients declined testing, and only a single test was made in the rest of the test population. In many cases, individuals are able to tolerate penicillin in initial, and sometimes even secondary and tertiary doses.