Antimicrobials
Cefuroxime

Cefuroxime

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

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%-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)