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Drug Details

KEFZOL

Drug Class Description
Cephalosporins.
Generic Name
Cefazolin [cephazolin]
Presentation
Powder for injections, cefazolin (cephazolin)(as sodium salt) 500 mg , 1 g.
Description
Powder in rubber-stoppered vials.
Indications
Treatment of the following infections due to susceptible micro-organisms:

Respiratory tract infections

Genito-urinary tract infections

Skin and soft tissue infections

Bone and joint infection

Septicaemia

Endocarditis

Biliary tract infections.

Prophylaxis of postoperative infection in patients undergoing contaminated or potentially contaminated surgical procedures associated with a high risk of infection, or where the occurrence of a postoperative infection could be especially serious.

Cefazolin is active against the following organisms in vitro:

Staphylococcus aureus (penicillin-sensitive and penicillin-resistant)

Staphylococcus epidermidis

Group A beta-haemolytic Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci and other strains of streptococci (many strains of enterococci are resistant)

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Escherichia coli

Klebsiella species

Proteus mirabilis

Haemophilus influenzae

Enterobacter aerogenes.
Adult Dosage
500 mg - 1 g by intramuscular or intravenous injection six to eight hourly. (UTI, 500 mg - 1 g 12 hourly.)
Child Dosage
Under 1 month, not recommended; others, 25 - 50 mg/kg daily in three or four divided doses by intramuscular or intravenous injection.
Contra Indications
Known allergy to cephalosporins.
Special Precautions
Hypersensitivity to b-lactam antibiotics. In beta-haemolytic infections, continue therapy for at least ten days. Impaired renal function.
Interactions
Loop diuretics, probenecid, aminoglycosides.
Adverse Drug Reactions
Pain at injection site, hypersensitivity reations. GI disturbances, candidiasis, convulsions, eosinophilia, neutropenia, leucopenia, thrombocythaemia, rise in liver enzymes and blood urea. Positive Coomb's test.