Ceftazidime

Ceftazidime is an antibiotic medicine used to treat bacterial infections in your body. It is effective in infections of the brain, lungs, ear, urinary tract, skin and soft tissues, bones and joints, blood and heart. It is also used to prevent infections during surgery. Ceftazidime fights and stops the growth of many types of bacteria. This helps to improve your symptoms and cure the underlying infection. It is given as a drip (intravenous infusion) or as an injection directly into a vein or a muscle under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Your doctor will decide the correct dose for you. You should use this medicine regularly at evenly spaced intervals as per the schedule prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. Stopping the medicine too early may lead to the infection returning or worsening. The most common side effects of this medicine include rash and diarrhoea. Some people may develop temporary redness or pain at the site of injection. These side effects are usually mild but let your doctor know if they bother you or last more than a few days. Before using it, you should tell your doctor if you are allergic to any antibiotics, and if you have any liver or kidney problems. You should also let your healthcare team know all other medicines you are taking as they may affect, or be affected by this medicine. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should consult their doctor before using it.

Ceftazidime is an antibiotic. It kills the bacteria by preventing them from forming the bacterial protective covering (cell wall) which is needed for them to survive.

• Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (including pneumonia)
• Skin and Skin Structure Infections
• Urinary Tract Infections (complicated and uncomplicated)
• Bacterial Septicemia
• Bone and Joint Infections
• Gynecologic Infections (endometritis)
• Intraabdominal Infections (peritonitis)
• Central Nervous System Infections (meningitis)

Ceftazidime is a semisynthetic, broad-spectrum, beta-lactam antibiotic for parenteral administration. Ceftazidime is bactericidal in action exerting its effect by inhibition of enzymes responsible for cell-wall synthesis. A wide range of gram-negative organisms is susceptible to ceftazidime in vitro, including strains resistant to gentamicin and other aminoglycosides. In addition, ceftazidime has been shown to be active against gram-positive organisms. It is highly stable to most clinically important beta-lactamases, plasmid or chromosomal, which are produced by both gram-negative and gram-positive organisms and, consequently, is active against many strains resistant to ampicillin and other cephalosporins.

Ceftazidime binds to one or more of the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) which inhibits the final transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan synthesis in bacterial cell wall, thus inhibiting biosynthesis and arresting cell wall assembly resulting in bacterial cell death.

Adult Dose:

Pediatric Dose (>2 months): 30-100 mg/kg/day (2-3 divided doses); severe infections up to 150 mg/kg/day (max 6 g/day) in 3 divided doses.

Neonates & up to 2 months: 25-60 mg/kg/day (2 divided doses).

Elderly (>80 years): Max 3 g/day.

Renal Dose:

Loading dose: 1 g; Peritoneal dialysis: 500 mg every 24 hours after loading dose; Hemodialysis: 0.5-1 g after each dialysis.

Hepatic impairment: No dose adjustment required.

Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer. Ceftazidime may be given intravenously or by deep IM injection.

If you miss a dose of Ceftazidime, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

Common Side Effects:

• Rash
• Allergic reaction
• Injection site reaction
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• Dizziness

• [UNSAFE] Ceftazidime may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
• Your doctor has prescribed Ceftazidime to cure your infection and improve your symptoms. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. Stopping it early may make the infection harder to treat.
• Discontinue Ceftazidime and inform your doctor immediately if you get a rash, itchy skin, swelling of face and mouth, or have difficulty in breathing.
• Diarrhea may occur as a side effect but should stop when your course is complete. Inform your doctor if it does not stop or if you find blood in your stools.
• Avoid consuming alcohol while taking Ceftazidime as it may cause increased side effects.
• Ceftazidime should be prescribed with caution in individuals with a history of gastrointestinal disease, particularly colitis.

• Hypersensitivity to Ceftazidime or the cephalosporin group of antibiotics.

May increase nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides. May diminish therapeutic effect of BCG, typhoid vaccine, Na picosulfate. May increase anticoagulant effect of vit K antagonists (e.g. warfarin). May increase serum level with probenecid.

[SAFE] Consuming alcohol with Ceftazidime does not cause any harmful side effects.

[SAFE IF PRESCRIBED] Ceftazidime is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown low or no adverse effects to the developing baby; however, there are limited human studies. Pregnancy Category B. This drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

[SAFE IF PRESCRIBED] Ceftazidime is safe to use during breastfeeding. Human studies suggest that the drug does not pass into the breastmilk in a significant amount and is not harmful to the baby. Ceftazidime is excreted in human milk in low concentrations. Avoid prolonged use of Ceftazidime, since it may have possible effects such as rash and diarrhea.

Pediatric dose: >2 months: 30-100 mg/kg/day (2-3 divided doses); severe infections up to 150 mg/kg/day (max 6 g/day) in 3 divided doses. Neonates & up to 2 months: 25-60 mg/kg/day (2 divided doses).

In view of the reduced clearance of Ceftazidime in acutely ill elderly patients, the daily dosage should not normally exceed 3 g, especially in those over 80 years of age.

[CAUTION] Ceftazidime should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Ceftazidime may be needed. Please consult your doctor. In patients with impaired renal function (GFR <50 mL/min), dosage reduction is recommended.

[CAUTION] Ceftazidime should be used with caution in patients with severe liver disease. Dose adjustment of Ceftazidime may be needed. Please consult your doctor. No adjustment in dosage is required for patients with hepatic dysfunction.

Ceftazidime overdosage has occurred in patients with renal failure. Reactions have included seizure activity, encephalopathy, asterixis, neuromuscular excitability, and coma. Patients who receive an acute overdosage should be carefully observed and given supportive treatment.

Store below 25°C, protected from light and moisture. Reconstituted solutions are stable for up to 24 h if stored between 2°-8°C.

Ceftazidime Pentahydrate