What type of medications are penicillins and cephalosporins primarily used for?

Penicillins and cephalosporins are classes of antibiotics that are primarily used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, which can include both skin and systemic infections. These medications work by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell walls, making them effective against a broad range of gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria.

The versatility of penicillins and cephalosporins allows them to be prescribed for conditions such as skin infections, pneumonia, and other systemic infections that may affect various organs and systems in the body. Their effectiveness is a key reason why they are widely used in clinical practice for treating infections caused by susceptible bacteria. The choice to categorize their use as covering both skin and systemic infections reflects their broad applicability in treating different types of bacterial infections.