Cefuroxime Flashcards
What is cefuroxime?
A 2nd generation cephalosporin used in the treatment of infections due to susceptible organisms including skin, soft tissue, resp tract, ear, nose, throat, bond.
What other drugs are in the same class as cefuroxime?
Ceftriaxone Cefaclor Cephalexin Cephazolin Cefotaxime Cefotaxime sodium
What is the place of therapy for Cefuroxime?
Emperical therapy for pneumonia.
Used against species with beta lactamase
What is the mechanism of action of cefuroxime?
Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis of actively dividing cells by binding to on or more penicillin binding proteins, resulting in defective cell wall that is osmotically unstable.
What are some pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics of cefuroxime?
Absorption tmax = 2-3 hours (oral)
distribution: reaches MIC for common pathogens, is 33-50% bound to plasma proteins
Elimination half life is 1-1.5 hours (oral)
Not metabolised by excreted by glomerular filtration and tubular secretion
What are some precautions of cefuroxime use?
Use with caution in patients with sensitivity to beta lactam antibacterials.
False positive urinary glucose and coomb’s test
Reduce parenteral dose if eGFR<20ml/min/1.73m^2
Pregnancy class B1
What are some adverse effects of cefuroxime use?
allergic reactions (rash, pruritus, urticaria, serum sickness like reactions, steven johnson’s syndrome, transient hepatits, cholestatic jaundice,
What are some interactions of Cefuroxime?
Reduce immune response to typhoid vaccine
Reduces mycophenolate bioavailability due to selective bowel decontaminiatin regimen
OC failure (rare)
Absorption is enhanced by food
nephrotoxicity may occur with aminoglycosides
What are some alarm bells regarding cefuroxime use?
Finish the course of antibiotics.
Report hypersensitivity symptoms including rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes and diarrhoea.
