CEFIXIME (cefixime)


Drug overview for CEFIXIME (cefixime):

Generic name: CEFIXIME (sef-IX-eem)
Drug class: Beta-Lactams
Therapeutic class: Anti-Infective Agents

Cefixime is a semisynthetic, third generation cephalosporin antibiotic.

Cefixime is used orally in adult and pediatric patients for the treatment of acute otitis media caused by susceptible bacteria; pharyngitis and tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A beta-hemolytic streptococci); respiratory tract infections (e.g., acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, pneumonia+) caused by susceptible bacteria; and uncomplicated urinary tract infections caused by susceptible bacteria. The drug also has been used for the treatment of gonorrhea and infections caused by susceptible Salmonella+ or Shigella+. Because cefixime has a long serum half-life and can be administered once or twice daily, some clinicians suggest that the drug may be particularly useful when patient compliance is a concern (e.g., in the treatment of otitis media).

Although cefixime is an effective alternative to other anti-infective agents for the treatment of many infections, the drug offers no clear advantage (except for a convenient dosage regimen) over other equally effective, less expensive anti-infectives available for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections or upper and lower respiratory tract infections. In addition, use of cefixime as empiric therapy in some infections (e.g., urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, soft tissue infections) is limited by its spectrum of activity since the drug is inactive against staphylococci, enterococci, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Because cefixime is inactive against most anaerobic bacteria, the drug is ineffective in and should not be used alone if a mixed aerobic-anaerobic bacterial infection is suspected.

Prior to initiation of cefixime therapy, appropriate specimens should be obtained for identification of the causative organism(s) and in vitro susceptibility tests. Cefixime therapy may be started pending results of susceptibility tests, but should be discontinued and other appropriate anti-infective therapy substituted if the organism is found to be resistant to cefixime.
DRUG IMAGES
  • CEFIXIME 400 MG CAPSULE
    CEFIXIME 400 MG CAPSULE
The following indications for CEFIXIME (cefixime) have been approved by the FDA:

Indications:
E. coli urinary tract infection
Haemophilus influenzae acute otitis media
Haemophilus influenzae bronchitis
Moraxella catarrhalis acute otitis media
Pharyngitis due to Streptococcus pyogenes
Proteus urinary tract infection
Streptococcus acute otitis media
Streptococcus pneumoniae bronchitis
Tonsillitis due to Streptococcus pyogenes


Professional Synonyms:
Acute otitis media due to H. flu
Acute otitis media due to Haemophilus influenzae
Acute otitis media due to Hemophilus influenzae
Acute otitis media due to influenza Bacillus
Acute otitis media due to Moraxella catarrhalis
Acute otitis media due to Pfeiffer's Bacillus
Acute otitis media due to Streptococcus species
Bronchitis due to Diplococcus pneumoniae
Bronchitis due to Fraenkel's Pneumococcus
Bronchitis due to Fraenkel-Weichselbaum Pneumococcus
Bronchitis due to H. flu
Bronchitis due to H. influenzae
Bronchitis due to Haemophilus influenzae
Bronchitis due to Hemophilus influenzae
Bronchitis due to influenzae Bacillus
Bronchitis due to Pfeiffer's Bacillus
Bronchitis due to Pneumococcus
Bronchitis due to Pneumonococcus
Bronchitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae
E. coli UTI
Epidemic sore throat
Pharyngitis due to group A beta-hemolytic streptococci
Pharyngitis due to Streptococcus epidemicus
Septic sore throat
Streptococcal pharyngitis
Streptococcus pyogenes tonsillitis
Urinary tract infection due to Escherichia coli
Urinary tract infection due to Proteus species
UTI due to Proteus species