NCIt definition : A beta-lactam, third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic with bactericidal activity.
Ceftazidime binds to and inactivates penicillin-binding proteins (PBP) located on
the inner membrane of the bacterial cell wall. PBPs participate in the terminal stages
of assembling the bacterial cell wall, and in reshaping the cell wall during cell
division. Inactivation of PBPs interferes with the cross-linkage 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 the second
and first generation cephalosporins, ceftazidime is more active against gram-negative
bacteria and less active against gram-positive bacteria. Ceftazidine also crosses
the blood-brain barrier and reaches therapeutic concentrations in the central nervous
system (CNS).;