Simple NAME: cefdinirBRAND NAME: OmnicefDRUG CLASS In addition to MECHANISM: Cefdinir is a semi-synthetic (partially man-made) mouth antibiotic in the cephalosporin family of anti-biotics. The cephalosporin family includes cephalexin (Keflex), cefaclor (Ceclor), cefuroxime (Zinacef), cefpodoxime (Vantin), cefixime (Suprax), cefprozil (Cefzil) as well as many injectable antibiotics. Like other cephalosporins, cefdinir stops bacteria from spreading by preventing bacteria by forming the walls that surround them. The wall surfaces are necessary to protect bacteria off their environment and to keep the contents of the bacterial cell with each other. Bacteria cannot survive with out a cell wall. Cefdinir is active against a very wide spectrum of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pyogenes (the reason for strep throat); Hemophilus influenzae; Moraxella catarrhalis; E. coli; Klebsiella; and Proteus mirabilis. It’s not active against Pseudomonas. Therapeutic employs of cefdinir include otitis media (bacterial contamination of the middle ear), bacterial infections of soft tissues, in addition to respiratory tract infections. The FDA approved cefdinir in December 1997.