Editing Cefalexin (section)

==Medical uses==
[[File:A course of green cefalexin pills.jpg|thumb|left|A course of cefalexin capsules, commonly prescribed for infections]]

Cefalexin can treat a number of bacterial infections including [[otitis media]], [[streptococcal pharyngitis]], bone and joint infections, [[pneumonia]], [[cellulitis]], and [[urinary tract infection]]s.<ref name=AHFS2014/> It may be used to prevent [[bacterial endocarditis]].<ref name=AHFS2014/> It can also be used for the prevention of recurrent urinary-tract infections.<ref name=AHFS2014/>

Cefalexin does not treat [[MRSA|methicillin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus'']] infections.<ref name=AHFS2014/>

Cefalexin is a useful alternative to penicillins in patients with penicillin intolerance. For example, penicillin is the treatment of choice for respiratory tract infections caused by ''Streptococcus'', but cefalexin may be used as an alternative in penicillin-intolerant patients.<ref name=AHFS2014/> Caution must be exercised when administering cephalosporin antibiotics to penicillin-sensitive patients, because cross-sensitivity with β-lactam antibiotics has been documented in up to 10% of patients with a documented penicillin allergy.<ref name=FDA>{{cite web|title=FDA Cephalexin drug label|url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/063024s022lbl.pdf|access-date=18 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418220539/http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/063024s022lbl.pdf|archive-date=18 April 2014}}</ref>

===Pregnancy and breastfeeding===
It is categorized in category A in Australia meaning that no evidence of harm has been found after being taken by many pregnant women.<ref name=AHFS2014/><ref name=TGA2014/> Use during [[breastfeeding]] is generally safe.<ref name=Breast2013/>