Ceftazidime belongs to the group of active substances called antibiotics. The drug is a component of the third-generation cephalosporins.
What is ceftazidime?
Ceftazidime belongs to the group of active substances called antibiotics. Ceftazidime, which is also known as ceftazidinum, is an antibiotic. It belongs to the third generation of cephalosporins, which are beta-lactam antibiotics, and is used to treat acute and chronic infections. The antibiotic prevents the bacteria from building an intact cell wall and ensures that the wall becomes permeable. In this way, the drug stimulates the death of harmful bacteria.
Pharmacological action
The basis of ceftazidime’s action is the disruption of the bacteria‘s cell wall synthesis. As a result, the germs are no longer able to build an intact cell wall. This in turn causes the cell wall to become permeable and, in the further course, results in the death of the pathogenic bacteria. In this process, ceftazidime attaches to special proteins inside the cells. Penicillins can also bind to these. Similar to the cephalosporin cefotaxime, ceftazidime has broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the antibiotic is considered effective against the pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as Burkholderia pseudomallei. The latter is responsible for the tropical disease melioidosis (pseudo-rot). Unlike cefotaxime, however, ceftazidime has a weaker effect against Gram-positive bacteria. Thus, its beneficial effects are limited in streptococci and staphylococci. Ceftazidime exerts its effect in the form of powder. This is administered to the patient by injection or infusion. The bioavailability of ceftazidime is around 91 percent. In the blood, ten percent of the antibiotic binds to plasma proteins. The plasma half-life averages 90 percent. Elimination of ceftazidime from the human body occurs 90 to 96 percent via the kidneys.
Medicinal use and application
Ceftazidime can be used against a variety of bacterial infections. These primarily include pneumonia that occurs in a hospital setting. Other indications include bacterial meningitis, cystic fibrosis, chronic otitis media associated with suppuration, infections of the bones and joints, complicated urinary tract infections, malignant inflammation of the external ear, and severe infections of the skin, muscles, and tendons. Ceftazidime is also suitable for treating blood poisoning (sepsis), peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum) after blood washing, complicated abdominal infections and fever due to a lack of neutrophil blood cells. Ceftazidime may also be useful as a preventive against urinary tract infection, due to surgical removal of the male prostate (prostate gland) via the urethra. In addition to adult patients and children, babies can also be treated with ceftazidime. However, since ceftazidime is only suitable for the treatment of certain pathogens, some types of infection cannot be treated with the antibiotic. The use of the cephalosporin is also considered justified only when the pathogen is most likely to be susceptible to the drug.
Risks and side effects
As with other antibiotics, there is a risk of side effects from the use of ceftazidime. However, these do not occur in every patient. For example, allergies are much less common with these cephalosporins than after taking penicillin. Cross-allergies to penicillins are also rare. In general, ceftazidime is considered to be well tolerated. However, some patients sometimes experience inflammation or blockage of blood vessels when the drug is applied by vein, as well as inflammation and pain when an injection of ceftazidime is administered into a muscle. Furthermore, an excess of platelets and immature blood cells, hives-like skin rash, a deficiency of neutrophil blood cells, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, itching, fever, and a deficiency of platelets are possible. In rare cases, there is a risk of kidney inflammation or even acute kidney failure. Ceftazidime must not be administered if the patient is hypersensitive to the active substance or other cephalosporins.The same applies in case of a previous allergic shock to penicillin, carbapenem or monobactam. Only limited information is available on the effects of ceftazidime in pregnancy. Thus, no adverse effects were found in animal studies. Nevertheless, ceftazidime is prescribed to expectant mothers only if there is no other option. The drug can be administered during breastfeeding, as there is no reason to fear any negative effects on the baby. When ceftazidime is administered, care should be taken not to mix it with alkaline-reacting solutions whose pH is above 7.5, due to harmful interactions. In addition, mixing ceftazidime and aminoglycoside antibiotics should be avoided. There is a risk of adverse effects on renal function from taking these two agents.
