Cephem

Cephems are a sub-group of β-lactam antibiotics including cephalosporins and cephamycins.^[1] It is one of the most common 4-membered ring heterocycles.^[2] Produced by actinomycetes, cephamycins were found to display antibacterial activity against a wide range of bacteria, including those resistant to penicillin and cephalosporins.^[3] The antimicrobial properties of Cephem include the attachment to certain penicillin-binding proteins that are involved in the production of cell walls of bacteria.^[4]

Core structure of the cephalosporins.

Core structure of the cephamycins.

Research

Researchers have developed antibiotics that include cephems and they have tried to test them clinically.^[5] Many of the antibiotics that are manufactured have different efficiencies based on the amount used, their strength, and their antibacterial spectra.^[5] Research was conducted on drugs that contain cephem to investigate their pharmacokinetics in the exudate of the space behind the peritoneum after radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. ^[5]