Final answer:
The prefix CEPH- refers to the cephalosporin class of antibiotics, which are characterized by a ß-lactam ring structure resistant to ß-lactamase enzymes and are effective against a broad range of bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prefix CEPH- indicates the drug is part of the cephalosporin family, which are antibiotics similar to penicillins. Cephalosporins also contain a ß-lactam ring, critical for their antibacterial activity, but differ from penicillins by having this ring fused to a six-membered ring, conferring increased resistance to ß-lactamase enzymes. Because the original drug, cephalosporin C, was isolated from the fungus Cephalosporium acremonium, this class has a broadened range, effectively targeting more gram-negative bacteria in addition to gram-positive bacteria. Semisynthetic cephalosporins come in several generations, offering a diverse chemical structure due to the presence of two R groups, which allows for more chemical alterations. The spectrum of activity broadens with each subsequent generation, from first-generation to the more recent fifth-generation cephalosporins, which have an even broader spectrum of activity.