Cefaclor

(CC) Image: David E. Volk
cefaclor (cephaclor)
IUPAC name: see chemistry section Synonyms: cephaclor Formula: C15H14ClN3O4S
Uses:	antibiotic drug
Properties:	beta-lactam
Hazards:	see drug interactions
Mass (g/mol): CAS #: 367.8074 53994-73-3

Cefaclor, also spelled as cephaclor, is a semisynthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic drug used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. It is a second generation cephalosporin antibiotic with similar activities. It is similar in structure to cephalexin and is also similar to penicillin-like drugs because it contains a beta-lactam moiety which binds to and interferes with bacterial cell wall synthesis. It can be used to treat a wide variety of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic bacteria.

Mechanism of action

Because cefaclor is a beta-lactam-based antibiotic, it binds to specific penicillin-binding proteins located inside the bacterial cell wall and inhibits the final stage of bacterial cell wall synthesis. As a consequence of the defective cell walls, the bacteria cells are autolysed by autolysins, autolytic enzymes. Cell lysis is then mediated by bacterial cell wall autolytic enzymes such as autolysins.

Susceptible microbes

Among the Gram-postive bacteria, cefaclor has shown activity against Staphylococci, including coagulase-(±) and penicillinase (+) strains, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Among the Gram-negative aerobes, cefaclor is active against Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, including ß-lactamase-producing ampicillin-resistant strains), Klebsiella sp, and Proteus mirabilis.

Chemistry

The IUPAC chemical name for cefaclor is (6R,7R)-7-[(2-amino-2-phenylacetyl)amino]-3-chloro-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid, and it has chemical formula C₁₅H₁₄ClN₃O₄S giving it a molecular mass of 367.8074 g/mol.

Synonyms and brand names

Synonyms CCL Cefaclor anhydrous Cefaclorum (Latin) Cephaclor

Brand names Alenfral Alfacet Alfatil Ceclor Ceclor CD Distaclor Kefral Panacef Panoral Raniclor

External links

The most up-to-date information about Cefaclor and other drugs can be found at the following sites.

• Cefaclor - FDA approved drug information (drug label) from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Cefaclor - Drug information for consumers from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
• Cefaclor - Detailed information from DrugBank.