Antimicrobials
Cefotaxime

Cefotaxime

High
N/A

Spectrum of Activity

General Information

HEALTH CANADA APPROVED

  • Treatment of infections of the lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, skin, central nervous system; also septicemia and gynecological infections caused by susceptible organisms
  • Perioperative prophylaxis. Is not used within Island Health for this indication

LOCAL REACTIONS

  • Pain on injection, thrombophlebitis

HYPERSENSITIVITY

  • Anaphylaxis, including bronchospasm and hypotension (rare)
  • Urticaria, pruritus, fever, eosinophilia, cytopenia

GASTROINTESTINAL

  • Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
  • Pseudomembranous colitis (rare)

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Transient elevations in AST, ALT, LDH and alkaline phosphatase
  • Positive Coombs test

Can be given IM

Subcutaneous use: no information available at this time

Antimicrobial class: 3rd Generation Cephalosporin Antibiotic

Pregnancy category: B

Average serum half life: 1.5 hours

Urine penetration: Therapeutic

Lung penetration: Therapeutic

CSF penetration: Therapeutic

Biliary penetration: Moderate

pH: 5 to 7.5