what are cephalosporins
Cephalosporin, any of a group of Î²-lactam antibiotics that inhibit the synthesis of a structural component of the bacterial cell wall. The cephalosporins were first isolated from cultures of the fungus Cephalosporium acremonium. Modifications of the Î²-lactam ring have resulted in more than 20 derivatives with a range of antibacterial properties. The cephalosporins are often used as an alternative in patients who are sensitive to penicillin.