Cephalexin

Category: pharmacological

Aliases: Keflex

Pharmacological Mechanism

First-generation cephalosporin β-lactam — inhibits transpeptidase (PBPs) blocking peptidoglycan crosslinking in bacterial cell walls. Renally cleared unchanged; no CYP. Common for skin / urinary tract infections; ~10% cross-reactivity in penicillin-allergic patients.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 1h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 500 mg (Range: 250–1000 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• renal
• integumentary
• immune-hematologic

Pathways It Modulates

• Bacterial cell wall (inhibitor) — PBP (1st-gen cephalosporin)

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 27447
• Formula: C16H17N3O4S
• Molecular weight: 347.39 g/mol
• InChIKey: ZAIPMKNFIOOWCQ-UEKVPHQBSA-N
• SMILES: CC1=C(N2[C@@H]([C@@H](C2=O)NC(=O)[C@@H](C3=CC=CC=C3)N)SC1)C(=O)O

References

• PMID 37760698