Cefuroxime

CEFUROXIME- cefuroxime sodium injection, powder, for solution
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

Rx Only

PHARMACY BULK PACKAGE — Not for Direct Infusion

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Cefuroxime for Injection and other antibacterial drugs, Cefuroxime for Injection should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.

DESCRIPTION

Cefuroxime, USP is a sterile semisynthetic, broad-spectrum, cephalosporin antibiotic for parenteral administration. It is the sodium salt of (6R,7R)-3-carbamoyloxymethyl-7-[Z-2-methoxyimino-2-(fur-2-yl)acetamido]ceph-3-em-4-carboxylate, and it has the following structural formula:

chemical structure
(click image for full-size original)

The molecular formula is C16 H15 N4 NaO8 S, representing a molecular weight of 446.4.

Cefuroxime for Injection, USP contains approximately 54.2 mg (2.4 mEq) of sodium per gram of cefuroxime activity.

Cefuroxime for Injection, USP in sterile crystalline form is supplied as Pharmacy Bulk Package equivalent to 7.5 g of cefuroxime as cefuroxime sodium. Solutions of Cefuroxime for Injection, USP range in color from light yellow to amber, depending on the concentration and diluent used. The pH of freshly constituted solutions usually ranges from 6 to 8.5.

A Pharmacy Bulk Package is a container of a sterile preparation for parenteral use that contains many single doses. The contents are intended for use in a pharmacy admixture service and are restricted to the preparation of admixtures for intravenous infusion. FURTHER DILUTION IS REQUIRED BEFORE USE.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

After intramuscular (IM) injection of a 750-mg dose of cefuroxime to normal volunteers, the mean peak serum concentration was 27 mcg/mL. The peak occurred at approximately 45 minutes (range, 15 to 60 minutes). Following IV doses of 750 mg and 1.5 g, serum concentrations were approximately 50 and 100 mcg/mL, respectively, at 15 minutes. Therapeutic serum concentrations of approximately 2 mcg/mL or more were maintained for 5.3 hours and 8 hours or more, respectively. There was no evidence of accumulation of cefuroxime in the serum following IV administration of 1.5-g doses every 8 hours to normal volunteers. The serum half-life after either IM or IV injections is approximately 80 minutes.

Approximately 89% of a dose of cefuroxime is excreted by the kidneys over an 8-hour period, resulting in high urinary concentrations.

Following the IM administration of a 750-mg single dose, urinary concentrations averaged 1,300 mcg/mL during the first 8 hours. Intravenous doses of 750 mg and 1.5 g produced urinary levels averaging 1,150 and 2,500 mcg/mL, respectively, during the first 8-hour period.

The concomitant oral administration of probenecid with cefuroxime slows tubular secretion, decreases renal clearance by approximately 40%, increases the peak serum level by approximately 30%, and increases the serum half-life by approximately 30%. Cefuroxime is detectable in therapeutic concentrations in pleural fluid, joint fluid, bile, sputum, bone, and aqueous humor.

Cefuroxime is detectable in therapeutic concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of adults and pediatric patients with meningitis. The following table shows the concentrations of cefuroxime achieved in cerebrospinal fluid during multiple dosing of patients with meningitis.

Table 1. Concentrations of Cefuroxime Achieved in Cerebrospinal Fluid During Multiple Dosing of Patients with Meningitis

Patients

Dose

Number of Patients

Mean (Range) CSF Cefuroxime Concentrations (mcg/mL) Achieved Within 8 Hours Post Dose

Pediatric patients(4 weeks to 6.5 years) 200 mg/kg/day,divided q 6 hours

5

6.6 (0.9-17.3)
Pediatric patients(7 months to 9 years) 200 to 230 mg/kg/day, divided q 8 hours 6

8.3 (<2-22.5)

Adults 1.5 grams q 8 hours 2

5.2 (2.7-8.9)

Adults 1.5 grams q 6 hours 10 6.0 (1.5-13.5)

Cefuroxime is approximately 50% bound to serum protein.

Microbiology

Mechanism of Action:

Cefuroxime is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. Cefuroxime has activity in the presence of some beta-lactamases, both penicillinases and cephalosporinases, of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Mechanism of Resistance:

Resistance to cefuroxime is primarily through hydrolysis by beta-lactamase, alteration of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), and decreased permeability.

Interaction with Other Antimicrobials
In an in vitro study antagonistic effects have been observed with the combination of chloramphenicol and cefuroxime.

Cefuroxime has been shown to be active against most isolates of the following bacteria, both in vitro and in clinical infections as described in the INDICATIONS AND USAGE section:

Gram-negative bacteria

  • Enterobacter spp.
  • Escherichia coli
  • Klebsiella spp.
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Neisseria meningitidis
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Gram-positive bacteria

  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Streptococcus pyogenes

The following in vitro data are available, but their clinical significance is unknown. At least 90 percent of the following bacteria exhibit an in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) less than or equal to the susceptible breakpoint for cefuroxime against isolates of similar genus or organism group. However, the efficacy of cefuroxime in treating clinical infections caused by these bacteria has not been established in adequate and well-controlled clinical trials.

Gram-negative bacteria

  • Citrobacter spp.
  • Providencia rettgeri
  • Haemophilus parainfluenzae
  • Proteus mirabilis
  • Moraxella catarrhalis
  • Morganella morganii
  • Salmonella spp.
  • Shigella spp.

Gram-positive bacteria

  • Staphylococcus epidermidis

Susceptibility Testing:

For specific information regarding susceptibility test interpretive criteria and associated test methods and quality control standards recognized by FDA for this drug, please see: https://www.fda.gov/STIC.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Cefuroxime for Injection, USP is indicated for the treatment of patients with infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated organisms in the following diseases:

  1. Lower Respiratory Tract Infections, including pneumonia, caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae (including ampicillin-resistant strains), Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus aureus (penicillinase- and non-penicillinase-producing strains), Streptococcus pyogenes, and Escherichia coli.
  2. Urinary Tract Infections caused by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp.
  3. Skin and Skin-Structure Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (penicillinase- and non-penicillinase-producing strains), Streptococcus pyogenes , Escherichia coli , Klebsiella spp., and Enterobacter spp.
  4. Septicemia caused by Staphylococcus aureus (penicillinase- and non-penicillinase producing strains), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae (including ampicillin-resistant strains), and Klebsiella spp.
  5. Meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenzae (including ampicillin-resistant strains), Neisseria meningitidis , and Staphylococcus aureus (penicillinase- and non-penicillinase-producing strains).
  6. Gonorrhea: uncomplicated and disseminated gonococcal infections due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae (penicillinase- and non-penicillinase-producing strains) in both males and females.
  7. Bone and Joint Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (penicillinase- and non-penicillinase-producing strains).

Clinical microbiological studies in skin and skin-structure infections frequently reveal the growth of susceptible strains of both aerobic and anaerobic organisms. Cefuroxime for Injection, USP has been used successfully in these mixed infections in which several organisms have been isolated.

In certain cases of confirmed or suspected gram-positive or gram-negative sepsis or in patients with other serious infections in which the causative organism has not been identified, Cefuroxime for Injection, USP may be used concomitantly with an aminoglycoside (see PRECAUTIONS). The recommended doses of both antibiotics may be given depending on the severity of the infection and the patient’s condition.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Cefuroxime for Injection, USP and other antibacterial drugs, Cefuroxime for Injection, USP should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

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