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Pharmacology: Cefoxitin is a beta-lactam antibiotic derived from the chemical modification of cephamycin C (a naturally occurring antibiotic substance produced by Streptomyces lactamdurans, a novel filamentous bacterium). Cefoxitin is a bactericidal broad-spectrum, semi-synthetic antibiotic for parenteral administration. This new class of beta-lactam antibiotics, the cephamycins, are characterized by a 7-alphamethoxy-beta-lactam. The methoxy group is responsible for the property of resistance to degradation by bacterial beta-lactamases (penicillinases and cephalosporinases).
Side chains, attached by chemical modification of the basic cephamycin nucleus, determine some of the specific antibacterial actions and other properties. Cefoxitin has a broad spectrum antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens, both aerobic and anaerobic. Cefoxitin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis and is bactericidal. The unique molecular structure of Cefoxitin gives a particularly high degree of resistance to beta-lactamases, a major mechanism of bacterial resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins. A high percentage of gram-negative rods which are beta-lactamase producing and resistant to penicillins or other cephalosporins are susceptible to Cefoxitin. In addition, a high percentage of penicillinase-producing, penicillin-resistant gram-positive and gram-negative cocci are susceptible to Cefoxitin.
