Ceftriaxone is a broad-spectrum, bactericidal antibiotic. It works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, which leads to bacterial death. It is effective against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Ceftriaxone has a long half-life, allowing for once or twice daily dosing. The injection comes as a sterile powder, which must be reconstituted with a suitable diluent (sterile water or saline) before intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) administration.