Antimicrobials
Cefuroxime

Cefuroxime

High
Moderate (40 to 70%)
$ (<$25/day)

Spectrum of Activity

Dosing

General Information

Monitor prothrombin time in patients at risk of prolongation during cephalosporin therapy (nutritionally-deficient, prolonged treatment, renal or hepatic disease)

  • Antacids: 
    • May decrease the serum concentration of Cefuroxime. Management
    • Administer cefuroxime axetil at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after the administration of short-acting antacids
  • Histamine H2 Receptor Antagonists: 
    • May decrease the absorption of Cefuroxime
    • Separate oral doses by at least 2 hours
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors:
    • May decrease the absorption of Cefuroxime

Cefitin, Zinacef

  • Absorption: Increases with food
  • Distribution:
    • Widely to body tissues and fluids including bronchial secretions, synovial and pericardial fluid, kidneys, heart, liver, bone and bile
    • Crosses blood-brain barrier
    • Vd: 50 ± 28 L
  • Protein Binding: 33% to 50%
  • Metabolism: Cefuroxime axetil (oral) is hydrolyzed in the intestinal mucosa and blood to cefuroxime
  • Bioavailability:
    • Tablet: Fasting: 37%; Following food: 52%
    • Suspension is less bioavailable than the tablet (91% of the AUC for tablets)
  • Half-Life Elimination: ~1-2 hrs
  • Time to Peak, Serum: Oral: ~2-3 hrs
  • Excretion: Urine (66% to 100% as unchanged drug)