Makindo Medical Notes

💉 Ceftazidime is notable for its strong anti-Pseudomonal activity. ⚠️ About 1–6% of penicillin-sensitive patients will also be allergic to cephalosporins. ❌ Patients with a history of immediate hypersensitivity to penicillin or other beta-lactams should not receive cephalosporins. ⚠️ Use with caution in those with beta-lactam sensitivity.

📖 About

Always check the BNF link here.

• 💊 3rd generation cephalosporin.
• 🦠 Excellent activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

⚙️ Action

• 🔗 Inhibits peptidoglycan cross-linking → disrupts bacterial cell wall synthesis.
• 🛑 Bactericidal action.

💉 Indications / Dose

• 🧠 Bacterial meningitis.
• 🩸 Septicaemia, pneumonia, biliary sepsis, peritonitis.
• 💧 UTIs and pyelonephritis.
• ⚖️ Mild–moderate infection: 500 mg – 1 g BD IV / deep IM / IV infusion.
• 🔥 Severe infection: 1 g TDS or 2 g BD IV / deep IM / IV infusion. Max dose: 6 g/day (reduce to 3 g/day in elderly).

🔄 Interactions

• ⚠️ May increase effect of warfarin → monitor INR more closely.

⚠️ Cautions

• 🚫 Allergy to penicillin or cephalosporins.
• 💧 Renal impairment (dose adjustment needed).
• 🧪 May cause false-positive urine glucose (dipstick) or Coombs’ test.
• 💉 High IV doses can increase sodium and potassium load.

⛔ Contraindications

• Severe hypersensitivity reactions to beta-lactams.
• ⚠️ Cross-sensitivity: ~10% of penicillin-allergic patients may also react to cephalosporins.

💥 Side Effects

• 🤢 GI: diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, antibiotic-associated colitis.
• 🌡️ Hypersensitivity: rash, urticaria, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, TEN.
• 🧪 Hepatic: hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice.
• 🩸 Haematological: ↓ WCC, platelets, granulocytes, aplastic anaemia.
• 💧 Renal: interstitial nephritis.
• 🧠 CNS: headache, delirium (rare).

📚 References

• Ceftazidime in BNF