Classes
DEA Class; Rx
Common Brand Names; Fortaz, Tazicef, Tazidime
- Cephalosporins, 3rd Generation
Description
Parenteral third-generation cephalosporin
Extremely active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; used for lower respiratory tract infections, skin and soft-tissue infections, UTIs, bone and joint infections, and meningitis
Limited use for empiric monotherapy for neutropenic fever due to emergence of resistant pathogens and poor gram-positive activity
Indications
Indicated for the treatment of bone and joint infections, including osteomyelitis.
Contraindications
Documented hypersensitivity to drug or excipients, or to cephalosporin class of antibacterial drugs, penicillins or other beta-lactam antibacterial drugs
Adverse Effects
- Transient increases in transaminases (3-9%)
- Eosinophilia (<7%)
- Diarrhea (<2%)
- Immune hypersensitivity reaction (2%)
- Phlebitis (<2%)
- Rash (maculopapular or erythematous) (2%)
- Thrombocytosis (2%)
- Injection site pain (1%)
- Abdominal pain
- Agranulocytosis
- Angioedema
- Asterixis
- Coma
- Dizziness
- Encephalopathy
- Fever
- Hallucinations
- Increased serum concentrations of bilirubin
- Leukopenia
- Lymphocytosis
- Metallic taste
- Myoclonia
- Nausea or vomiting
- Neuromuscular excitability
- Neutropenia
- Paresthesia
- Photosensitivity
- Pruritus
- Seizures
- Thrombocytopenia
- Transient increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) or serum creatinine
- Urticaria
Warnings
High and prolonged serum ceftazidime concentrations can occur from usual dosages in patients with transient or persistent reduction of urinary output because of renal insufficiency; elevated levels of the drug in these patients can lead to, seizures, nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), encephalopathy, coma, asterixis, neuromuscular excitability, and myoclonus reported in patients treated with ceftazidime; adjust dosing based on creatinine clearance in patients with renal impairment
Elevated international normalized ratio (INR) has reported in patients with nutritional deficiency, prolonged treatment, or renal or hepatic disease
Use with caution in patients with history of seizure disorder (especially in renal impairment, where drug levels may increase significantly)
Modify dose in renal impairment
Use with caution in patients with history of penicillin allergy
Prescribing the drug in the absence of proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria
Pregnancy and Lactation
Pregnancy category: B
Lactation: Drug excreted in breast milk; use with caution
Maximum Dosage
6 g/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 12 g/day have been used off-label for cystic fibrosis.
6 g/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 12 g/day have been used off-label for cystic fibrosis.
6 g/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 400 mg/kg/day (Max: 12 g/day) have been used off-label for cystic fibrosis.
150 mg/kg/day (Max: 6 g/day) IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 400 mg/kg/day (Max: 12 g/day) have been used off-label for cystic fibrosis.
150 mg/kg/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 400 mg/kg/day have been used off-label for cystic fibrosis.
8 days and older: 60 mg/kg/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 150 mg/kg/day have been used off-label.
0 to 7 days: 60 mg/kg/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 100 mg/kg/day have been used off-label.
How supplied
Ceftazidime
injectable solution
- 20mg/mL
- 40mg/mL
powder for injection
- 500mg
- 1g
- 2g
- 6g