[Cefoxitin, a new semi-synthetic cephamycin (author's transl)].

The authors review the procedure utilized for the naming of a new antibiotic. The cephamycins are taken as an example. Cefoxitin, derivative of the cephamycin C through an original chemical reaction is described. This antibiotic possesses a high degree of resistance to beta-lactamases due to the presence of a methoxy group in the 7alpha position of the beta-lactam ring. The results of extensive in-vitro trials are given, they indicate that cefoxitin has a unique antibacterial activity.