The active substance Cefamandol is an antibiotic that belongs to the pharmaceutical category of cephalosporins. In this context, the drug cefamandole belongs to the second-generation cephalosporins. The drug is primarily characterized by its bactericidal properties. This means that it kills bacteria.
What is cefamandol?
The drug cefamandole is used in the vast majority of cases as part of the therapy of infectious diseases caused by certain bacteria. The decisive factor for the efficacy of cefamandol is that the pathogens involved are sensitive to the active substance. Basically, the drug’s action is due to its bactericidal effects. Similar to numerous other drugs from the same group of active ingredients, cefamandol also impairs the formation of cell walls in bacteria. In most cases, the drug is administered by parenteral route. While taking the active substance, it should be noted that various undesirable side effects may occur. For example, in some cases there is nausea or skin irritation at the injection site. In some cases, the synonyms cefamandolum, cefamandol nafate or cefamandoli nafas are also used for the drug cefamandol. Currently, the active ingredient cefamandol is only available on the pharmaceutical market in the form of a solution for injection. It is sold under the trade name Mandokef. In Switzerland, the drug has been approved for pharmaceutical use since 1978. In medicines, the active ingredient is in the form of cefamandolafate. This substance is usually a powder of white color, which has a rapid solubility in water.
Pharmacological action
The drug cefamandol is characterized by a characteristic mechanism of action, making it suitable for combating susceptible pathogens. Because cefamandol is an antibiotic, the active ingredient primarily targets bacterial pathogens that cause certain infectious diseases. Similar to other types of cephalosporins, cefamandol acts primarily as a bactericide, meaning that it kills specific bacteria. The mechanism of action is based on interfering with the formation of bacterial cell walls. This is because the formation of new cell walls is a fundamental component in the division and multiplication of bacterial cells. By interfering with this process, cefamandol prevents the bacteria from dividing properly. Stable construction of cell walls is thus not possible, and instead the bacteria die as a result.
Medical application and use
Due to its spectrum of action, the drug cefamandol is suitable for the drug therapy of various infectious diseases. Because cefamandol is an antibiotic, it is primarily effective against certain types of bacteria and the infections they cause. Basically, cefamandol shows good efficacy especially against so-called gram-negative and gram-positive pathogens. Cefamandol is a beta-lactam antibiotic and is particularly effective against staphylococci, Proteus mirabilis and Haemophilus influenzae. The drug cefamandole should always be dosed according to the professional information. In the majority of cases, the active substance is administered by the parenteral route, i.e., injected either intramuscularly or intravenously.
Risks and side effects
A variety of adverse side effects and other symptoms are possible during or after treatment with cefamandole. However, these vary from person to person and differ in severity. In addition, not all patients suffer from side effects. For example, side effects such as hypersensitivity reactions, vomiting and nausea are possible in the course of therapy with the active substance cefamandole. In addition, some patients complain of headaches and dizziness as well as local skin rashes at the site of the injection. Due to the active ingredient cefamandole, disturbances of liver function as well as blood clotting are also possible. It should be noted that, as a matter of principle, no alcohol should be consumed during therapy with the antibiotic cefamandole. This is because the consumption of alcohol in combination with cefamandole can lead to intolerance reactions, which may result in serious complications.In addition, when prescribing cefamandole, it should be noted that there are various contraindications for which the active substance should not be taken. For example, the antibiotic should not be administered if hypersensitivity reactions to the drug or other drugs from the same group of active ingredients have already occurred in the past. Complete information on this can be found in the drug’s technical information. It should also be noted that the active substance cefamandole interacts with certain other substances. This is the case, for example, with alcohol. In addition, observations indicate that the active ingredient cefamandole interacts with various other drugs. These include, for example, the drug probenecid, certain antithrombotics and other types of antibiotics. If adverse reactions occur during treatment, a physician should be informed quickly.
