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Cefazolin Brand Names
Ancef | Kefzol
What is Cefazolin
Cefazolin is a parenteral first-generation cephalosporin with greater activity against gram-positive bacteria than most other cephalosporins.
Similar to other first-generation cephalosporins, cefazolin is active against gram-positive aerobic cocci, but has limited activity against gram-negative bacteria.
Cefazolin has a longer half-life than other first-generation cephalosporins and, since fewer daily doses are required, is less expensive to use.
Advantages of cefazolin over other first-generation cephalosporins include higher blood levels after IM/IV administration, greater gram-positive coverage, and less frequent dosing.
Cefazolin was approved by the FDA in 1973.
Indications
- bacteremia
- biliary tract infections
- bone and joint infections
- community-acquired pneumonia
- endocarditis
- endocarditis prophylaxis
- epididymitis
- Escherichia coli
- Haemophilus influenzae (beta-lactamase negative)
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- lower respiratory tract infections
- mastitis
- neonatal mastitis
- perinatal Group B streptococcal infection prophylaxis
- peritonitis
- pneumonia
- prostatitis
- Proteus mirabilis
- Shigella sp.
- skin and skin structure infections
- Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA)
- Staphylococcus epidermidis
- Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococci)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Streptococcus pyogenes (group A beta-hemolytic streptococci)
- Streptococcus sp.
- surgical infection prophylaxis
- upper respiratory tract infections
- urinary tract infection (UTI)
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)
- agranulocytosis
- anaphylactic shock
- anaphylactoid reactions
- angioedema
- anorexia
- aplastic anemia
- azotemia
- bleeding
- candidiasis
- cholestasis
- colitis
- confusion
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- eosinophilia
- erythema multiforme
- fever
- flatulence
- headache
- hemolytic anemia
- hepatitis
- hypertonia
- hypoprothrombinemia
- hypotension
- injection site reaction
- interstitial nephritis
- leukopenia
- maculopapular rash
- nausea
- neutropenia
- oral ulceration
- pancytopenia
- phlebitis
- pruritus
- pruritus ani
- pseudomembranous colitis
- pyrosis (heartburn)
- rash
- renal failure (unspecified)
- seizures
- serum sickness
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- superinfection
- thrombocytopenia
- thrombocytosis
- toxic epidermal necrolysis
- urticaria
- vaginitis
- vomiting
- weakness
Monitoring Parameters
- serum creatinine/BUN
Contraindications
- antimicrobial resistance
- breast-feeding
- cephalosporin hypersensitivity
- coagulopathy
- colitis
- diarrhea
- geriatric
- GI disease
- inflammatory bowel disease
- neonates
- penicillin hypersensitivity
- pregnancy
- pseudomembranous colitis
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- ulcerative colitis
- viral infection
- vitamin K deficiency
Interactions
- Clofarabine
- Isoniazid, INH; Pyrazinamide, PZA; Rifampin
- Isoniazid, INH; Rifampin
- Loop diuretics
- Oral Contraceptives
- Rifampin
- Sodium picosulfate; Magnesium oxide; Anhydrous citric acid
- Warfarin
