Cefotaxime

Cefotaxime is a third-generation Cephalosporin antibiotic. It was first patented in 1976 and came into medical use in 1980. Cefotaxime is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including those caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and others.

Chemistry[edit | edit source]

Cefotaxime is a semi-synthetic, beta-lactam antibiotic, which is resistant to most beta-lactamases. It is derived from Cephalosporin C, a naturally occurring antibiotic produced by the fungus Acremonium. Cefotaxime works by inhibiting the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, leading to cell death.

Pharmacology[edit | edit source]

Cefotaxime is administered either by intravenous or intramuscular injection. It is metabolized in the body and excreted in the urine. The half-life of cefotaxime is approximately one hour in adults.

Clinical Use[edit | edit source]

Cefotaxime is used to treat a wide range of infections, including pneumonia, meningitis, gonorrhea, and infections of the skin, urinary tract, and abdomen. It is also used for surgical prophylaxis in patients undergoing abdominal or pelvic surgery.

Side Effects[edit | edit source]

Common side effects of cefotaxime include rash, diarrhea, and changes in white blood cell count. Serious side effects may include Clostridium difficile infection, allergic reactions, and seizures.

Resistance[edit | edit source]

Resistance to cefotaxime and other cephalosporins can occur through several mechanisms, including the production of beta-lactamase enzymes, alteration of penicillin-binding proteins, and efflux pumps.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Types of antibacterials

Oral Cephalosporins

Cefaclor (2nd)
Cefadroxil (1st)
Cefdinir (3rd)
Cefditoren (3rd)
Cefixime (3rd)
Cefpodoxime (3rd)
Cefprozil (2nd)
Ceftibuten (1st)
Cephalexin (1st)
Cefuroxime (2nd)
Cephradine (1st)
Loracarbef (2nd)

Parenteral Cephalosporins

Cefazolin (1st)
Cefepime (4th)
Cefoperazone (3rd)
Cefotaxime (3rd)
Cefoxitin (2nd)
Ceftaroline (5th)
Ceftazidime (3rd)
Ceftibuten (3rd)
Ceftizoxime (3rd)
Ceftolozane/Tazobactam (5th)
Cefuroxime (2nd)
Cephradine (1st)
Ceftriaxone (3rd)

This article is a stub related to pharmacology. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Transform your life with W8MD's budget GLP1 injections from $125

W8MD offers a medical weight loss program NYC and a clinic to lose weight in Philadelphia. Our W8MD's physician supervised medical weight loss centers in NYC provides expert medical guidance, and offers telemedicine options for convenience.

Why choose W8MD?

Comprehensive care with FDA-approved weight loss medications including:
loss injections in NYC both generic and brand names:
- Zepbound / Mounjaro, Wegovy / Ozempic, Saxenda
weight loss medications including Phentermine, Qsymia, Diethylpropion etc.
Accept most insurances for visits or discounted self pay cost.
Generic weight loss injections starting from just $125.00 for the starting dose
In person weight loss NYC and telemedicine medical weight loss options in New York city available
Budget GLP1 weight loss injections in NYC starting from $125.00 biweekly with insurance!

Book Your Appointment

Start your NYC weight loss journey today at our NYC medical weight loss, and Philadelphia medical weight loss Call (718)946-5500 for NY and 215 676 2334 for PA

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's NYC physician weight loss.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available. Call 718 946 5500.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Translate this page: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, தமிழ், తెలుగు, Urdu, ಕನ್ನಡ, Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, বাংলা
European español, Deutsch, français, Greek, português do Brasil, polski, română, русский, Nederlands, norsk, svenska, suomi, Italian
Middle Eastern & African عربى, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Kiswahili,
Other Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czech, Swedish, മലയാളം, मराठी, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ગુજરાતી, Portuguese, Ukrainian

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.