Cefalothin is a β-lactam cephalosporin antibiotic.
1,2 It inhibits the growth of various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including several strains of
S. pyogenes,
S. aureus,
C. tetani,
N. gonorrhoeae,
Salmonella, and
Shigella (MICs = 0.1-0.2, 0.312-0.625, 0.078, 1.25, 1.56-6.25, and 3.12-12.5 μg/ml, respectively).
1 Cefalothin binds to
E. coli penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs; IC
50s = <0.25, 16, 37, and 1 μg/ml for PBP1a, 1bs, 2, and 3, respectively, in a radioligand binding assay), which interferes with bacterial morphogenesis.
2 It exhibits antibacterial activity in mouse models of infection with
S. pyogenes,
D. pneumoniae, and
S. aureus.
1 Formulations containing cefalothin were previously used in the prophylaxis and treatment of bacterial infections.