Please note: This is for information only.

Refer to local guidelines for treatment recommendations

 

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• A 1st generation cephalosporin antibiotic.
• Bactericidal
• Usual adult dose: up to 2g per day in 2-4 divided doses.
• Good activity against Gram positive organisms.
• Reasonable bioavailability when given orally.
• Adjust dose if severe renal impairment
• IV and oral preparations available, though IV use restricted to surgical prophylaxis.
• Unaffected by the degrading effects of penicillinase
• High risk of Clostridium difficile antibiotic-associated diarrhoea if prescribed for elderly in-patients.
• Not to be used in patients with a serious penicillin allergy (e.g. anaphylaxis).

Main indications

• Orthopaedic surgical prophylaxis
• Alternative treatment for urinary tract infections
• Alternative agent to flucloxacillin if penicillin allergy. CARE: 10% chance of cross allergy if anaphylaxis to penicillins.

Active against most strains of:

• Staphylococcus aureus (NOT MRSA)
• Haemolytic streptococci
• Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Escherichia coli (but only for UTI)

Not active against most strains of:

• MRSA
• Haemophilus influenzae
• Enterococcus
• Anaerobes
• Pseudomonas