Cephalosporins

• - Skin and soft tissue infections owing to S. pyogenes and methicillin-susceptible S. 
  aureus.

  - Surgical prophylaxis: A single dose of cefazolin just before surgery is the preferred prophylaxis for procedures in which skin flora are the likely pathogens

• - For prophylaxis for intestinal anaerobes as in colorectal surgery. (Cefoxitin)
• - For ORAL treatment of respiratory tract infections by penicillin resistant S. pneumoniae (e.g. pneumonia and otitis media) SUBOPTIMAL to ampicillin
• - To cover facultative anaerobes and gram negative organisms (Cefoxitin and Cefotetan) as in:
•       - Intra-abdominal infections
•       - PID
•       - Diabetic foot

Because of their inferior activity against penicillin-resistan Strept. pneumoniae when compared to Ampicillin and 3rd generation cephalosporins.