Antibiotic
cephalexin
[ sef-uh-lek-sin ]
Brand Names:
Keflex; Rilexine
Effect:
Decreased Cell Wall Synthesis & Repair
May Prevent:
Endocarditis, Bacterial
May Treat:
Bites, Human;
Bone Diseases, Infectious;
Escherichia coli Infections;
Haemophilus Infections;
Klebsiella Infections;
Moraxellaceae Infections;
Otitis Media;
Pharyngitis;
Pneumonia, Bacterial;
Proteus Infections;
Skin Diseases, Bacterial;
Soft Tissue Infections;
Staphylococcal Infections;
Streptococcal Infections;
Surgical Wound Infection;
Urinary Tract Infections
More Information:
Definitions related to cephalexin:
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A beta-lactam, first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic with bactericidal activity. Cephalexin binds to and inactivates penicillin-binding proteins (PBP) located on the inner membrane of the bacterial cell wall. Inactivation of PBPs interferes with the cross-linking of peptidoglycan chains necessary for bacterial cell wall strength and rigidity. This results in the weakening of the bacterial cell wall and causes cell lysis. Compared to second and third generation cephalosporins, cephalexin is more active against gram-positive and less active against gram-negative organisms.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic with antimicrobial activity similar to that of CEPHALORIDINE or CEPHALOTHIN, but somewhat less potent. It is effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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An antibiotic drug that belongs to the family of drugs called cephalosporins.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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