List of β-lactam antibiotics

This is a list of common β-lactam antibiotics—both administered drugs and those not in clinical use—organized by structural class. Antibiotics are listed alphabetically within their class or subclass by their nonproprietary name. If an antibiotic is a combination drug, both ingredients will be listed.

Penams

Narrow-spectrum

β-lactamase-sensitive

Benzathine
benzylpenicillin (Penicillin G)
Benzathine penicillin G
Benzathine penicillin V
Phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V)
Procaine penicillin
Pheneticillin

β-lactamase-resistant

Cloxacillin
Dicloxacillin
Flucloxacillin
Methicillin
Nafcillin
Oxacillin
Temocillin

Broad spectrum

Amoxicillin
Ampicillin

Extended spectrum (Antipseudomonal)

Carboxypenicillins

Ureidopenicillins

Cephems

First generation (moderate spectrum)

Second generation (moderate spectrum)

cefuroxime, cefaclor, cefprozil

With anti-Haemophilus activity

With anti-anaerobic activity

Third generation (broad spectrum)

Fourth generation (broad spectrum)

(With β-lactamase stability and enhanced activity against Gram-positive bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa)

Fifth generation* (broad spectrum)

(activity against MRSA and variably VRE. *Not universally accepted nomenclature. NO Antipseudomonal activity, mostly ceftriaxone coverage with additional MRSA and some VRE)

Ceftaroline, Ceftobiprole

Carbapenems and penems

(Broadest spectrum of β-lactam antibiotics)

Monobactams

Aztreonam
Tigemonam
Nocardicin A
Tabtoxinine β-lactam (does not inhibit penicillin-binding proteins)

β-lactamase inhibitors

Antibacterials active on the cell wall and envelope (J01C-J01D)

Beta-lactams
(inhibit synthesis
of peptidoglycan
layer of bacterial
cell wall by binding
to and inhibiting
PBPs, a group of
D-alanyl-D-alanine
transpeptidases)

Penicillins (Penams)

Narrow
spectrum

β-lactamase sensitive (1st generation)	Benzylpenicillin (G)^# Benzathine benzylpenicillin^# Procaine benzylpenicillin^# Phenoxymethylpenicillin (V)^# Propicillin^‡ Pheneticillin^‡ Azidocillin^‡ Clometocillin^‡ Penamecillin^‡
β-lactamase resistant (2nd generation)	Cloxacillin^# (Dicloxacillin Flucloxacillin) Oxacillin Nafcillin Methicillin^‡

Extended
spectrum

Aminopenicillins (3rd generation)	Amoxicillin^# Ampicillin^# (Pivampicillin Hetacillin^‡ Bacampicillin^‡ Lenampicillin Metampicillin^‡ Talampicillin^‡) Epicillin^‡
Carboxypenicillins (4th generation)	Ticarcillin Carbenicillin^‡ / Carindacillin^‡ Temocillin^‡
Ureidopenicillins (4th generation)	Piperacillin Azlocillin^‡ Mezlocillin^‡
Other	Mecillinam (Pivmecillinam) Sulbenicillin^‡

Carbapenems / Penems

Cephems
Cephalosporins
Cephamycins
Carbacephems

1st generation	Cefazolin^# Cefalexin ^# Cefadroxil Cefapirin Cefazedone^‡ Cefazaflur^‡ Cefradine^‡ Cefroxadine^‡ Ceftezole^‡ Cefaloglycin^‡ Cefacetrile^‡ Cefalonium^‡ Cefaloridine^‡ Cefalotin Cefatrizine^‡
2nd generation	Cefaclor Cefprozil Cefuroxime Cefuroxime axetil Cefamandole^‡ Cefonicid^‡ Ceforanide^‡ Cefuzonam^‡ Cephamycin (Cefoxitin Cefotetan Cefminox^‡ Cefbuperazone^‡ Cefmetazole^‡) Carbacephem (Loracarbef^‡)
3rd generation	Cefixime^# Ceftriaxone^# Cefotaxime^# Antipseudomonal (Ceftazidime^# Cefoperazone) Cefdinir Cefcapene Cefdaloxime Ceftizoxime Cefmenoxime Cefpiramide Cefpodoxime Ceftibuten Cefditoren Cefotiam^‡ Cefetamet^‡ Cefodizime^‡ Cefpimizole^‡ Cefsulodin^‡ Cefteram^‡ Ceftiolene^‡ Oxacephem (Flomoxef Latamoxef^‡)
4th generation	Cefepime Cefozopran^‡ Cefpirome Cefquinome^‡
5th generation	Ceftaroline fosamil Ceftolozane Ceftobiprole
Siderophore	Cefiderocol^#
Veterinary	Ceftiofur Cefquinome Cefovecin

Monobactams

β-lactamase inhibitors

Combinations

Polypeptides

Glycopeptides Lipoglycopeptides	Inhibit PG chain elongation: Vancomycin^# (Oritavancin Telavancin) Teicoplanin (Dalbavancin) Ristocetin^‡ Avoparcin Inhibit autolysin: Corbomycin (not approved)
Lipopeptides	Insert into bacterial cell wall causing perforation and depolarization: Daptomycin Surfactin
Polymyxins	Bind to LPS in the outer bacterial membrane, acting in detergent-like fashion: Colistin Polymyxin B
Other	Inhibits PG elongation and crosslinking: Ramoplanin^§