Article: Cefuroxime

Cefuroxime
Systematic (IUPAC) name
4-(carbamoyloxymethyl)-8- [2-(2-furyl)-2-methoxyimino-acetyl]amino -7-oxo- 2-thia-6-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct -4-ene-5-carboxylic acid
Identifiers
CAS number	55268-75-2
ATC code	J01DC02
PubChem	41375
DrugBank	APRD00285
Chemical data
Formula	C16H16N4O8S
Mol. weight	424.386 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	37% on empty stomach, up to 52% if taken after food
Metabolism	axetil moiety is metabolized to acetaldehyde and acetic acid
Half life	80 minutes
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status
Routes	oral, intramuscular, intravenous

Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that has been widely available in the USA since 1977. It is also available under the brand name Ceftin. Glaxo Smith Kline sells the antibiotic in Australia under the name Zinnat, with the Australian pharmaceutical code of R 47621.

Indications

As for the cephalosporins, although as a second-generation it is less susceptible to Beta-lactamase and so may have greater activuty against Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Lyme disease.

Side effects

Cefuroxime is generally well tolerated and side effects are usually transient. Cefuroxime if taken with food is both better absorbed and less likely to cause its commonest upsets of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

As with the cephalosporins generally, there is a 10% cross-over sensitivity for those people with allergy to penicillins.