Overview of Paracef
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Cefoperazone (as sodium salt) |
| Form | Lyophilized powder for injection |
| Pharmacological Class | Third-generation beta-lactam cephalosporin antibiotic |
| General Purpose | Treatment of serious systemic bacterial infections |
| Origin | Semisynthetic |
What is Cefoperazone and What Type of Antibiotic is Paracef?
Paracef is a powerful, prescription-only medicine whose active ingredient is Cefoperazone, which is structurally a beta-lactam antibiotic. Cefoperazone is further classified as a semisynthetic third-generation cephalosporin. This classification is based on the compound's core chemical structure and its position in the evolutionary development of the cephalosporin family. As a third-generation agent, Cefoperazone is generally distinguished by its enhanced activity against numerous difficult-to-treat Gram-negative bacteria compared to earlier generations, offering broad-spectrum coverage in hospital settings.
Composition, Form, and General Anti-Infective Purpose
The medication is supplied as a sterile, lyophilized powder for injection, a form that requires reconstitution with a sterile solvent immediately prior to its administration. This unique presentation, requiring parenteral delivery, ensures direct systemic effect, crucial for treating established, serious infections like those affecting the bloodstream or deep tissues. Paracef is a single-active-ingredient product, containing only Cefoperazone typically in the form of its sodium salt. Its general therapeutic purpose is to address and resolve serious systemic bacterial infections throughout the body. Cefoperazone achieves this by acting as a potent bactericidal agent: its mechanism involves disrupting the structure of susceptible micro-organisms by interfering with the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. This action results from its high affinity for bacterial penicillin-binding proteins, directly leading to the death of the pathogen.
Regulatory References

