Ceftriaxone is considered which generation of cephalosporin?

• A. 1st generation
• B. 2nd generation
• C. 3rd generation
• D. 4th generation

Answer: (C)

Cephalosporin generations reflect shifts in antibacterial spectrum and properties. Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin because it has notably expanded activity against Gram-negative bacteria and good central nervous system penetration, which makes it effective for meningitis and infections caused by common Gram-negative pathogens. In contrast, earlier generations lean more toward Gram-positive coverage with less Gram-negative activity, and the fourth generation adds reliable Pseudomonas coverage—something ceftriaxone does not consistently provide. So its place in the third generation comes from its broader Gram-negative activity and CNS penetration compared with the earlier generations, along with the characteristic reduced activity against some Gram-positive cocci relative to first-generation agents.