Antimicrobials
Cefotaxime

Cefotaxime

High
N/A
$$

Spectrum of Activity

General Information

  • May be used in place of ceftriaxone for patients with biliary sludging or cholestatic hepatitis.

  • EMPIRIC therapy of severely ill patients with suspected Gram-negative infection

  • Documented Gram-negative infection resistant to 1st and 2nd generation cephalosporins

  • Meningitis

  • Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, community-acquired secondary peritonitis (or hospital acquired with no previous antimicrobial therapy), or intra-abdominal abscess.

  • Community acquired pneumonia

Does not cover Pseudomonas and other resistant Gram-negatives, ESBLs or AmpC producing Enterobacteriaceae

Potential link to seizure risk

  • Neutropenia
  • Abnormalities in liver enzymes
  • Diarrhea, C. difficile
  • Potential link to seizure risk

Prefer ceftriaxone for CNS infection in renal failure

Antimicrobial class: 3rd Generation Cephalosporin

Pregnancy category: B

Average serum half life: 1.5 hours

Biliary penetration: Moderate

CSF penetration: Therapeutic

Lung penetration: Therapeutic

Urine penetration: Therapeutic