Ancef is best described as:

• A. A antifungal medication
• B. A diuretic
• C. A cephalosporin antibiotic active against skin flora such as Staphylococcus
• D. A proton pump inhibitor

Answer: (C)

Ancef is the brand name for cefazolin, a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. This class works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, which makes the bacteria die as they try to grow. It has strong activity against Gram-positive cocci, especially Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species, which are common skin flora. Because of that, Ancef is especially useful for preventing surgical site infections and for treating skin and soft tissue infections. It is not an antifungal, a diuretic, or a proton pump inhibitor, which is why those descriptions don’t fit.