Question

The health care practitioner needs to give an intramuscular injection to a client for treatment of a sexually transmitted infection. A cephalosporin, Rocephin, is ordered IM. The health care practitioner knows that cephalosporins prescribed for STDs belong to which generation?

Answer 1

Answer:

Rocephin is a third generation cephalosporins.

Explanation:

Cephalosporins are wide range of antibiotics and they are effective against a wide range of bacteria. They kill bacteria and work in a similar way like penicillins. There are three generations of cephalosporins.

1. 1st generation: They are highly effective against gram positive bacteria but rarely against gram negative, for e.g cephadrine and cephalexin.
2. 2nd generation: They target few types of gram positive and gram negative bacteria and are less efficient against gram positive as compared to the first generation cephalosporins. For example cefprozil.
3. 3rd generation: They are highly effective against gram negative bacteria and may work well for bacteria that are resistant to the first two generation. Example: Rocephin or cefixime.

STDs or sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea, syphilis chlamydia are caused by gram negative bacteria like Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum or Streptococcus agalactiae etc.