The suffix -Cef/-Ceph indicates which type of antibiotic?

The suffix -Cef/-Ceph indicates which type of antibiotic?

• A. Penicillin antibiotic
• B. Local anesthetic
• C. Cephalosporin antibiotic
• D. Corticosteroid

Answer: (C)

Suffixes in drug names help identify the class. The ending -cef or -ceph signals cephalosporin antibiotics. Cephalosporins are a family of beta-lactam antibiotics that disrupt bacterial cell wall synthesis, offering broad spectrum activity and coming in several generations with varying resistance to beta-lactamases. They’re related to penicillins in mechanism but are a distinct group, which is why their name ends with -cef/-ceph. In contrast, penicillins usually end with -cillin, local anesthetics often end with -caine, and corticosteroids end with -sone/-olone.

Suffixes in drug names help identify the class. The ending -cef or -ceph signals cephalosporin antibiotics. Cephalosporins are a family of beta-lactam antibiotics that disrupt bacterial cell wall synthesis, offering broad spectrum activity and coming in several generations with varying resistance to beta-lactamases. They’re related to penicillins in mechanism but are a distinct group, which is why their name ends with -cef/-ceph. In contrast, penicillins usually end with -cillin, local anesthetics often end with -caine, and corticosteroids end with -sone/-olone.