The antibiotic ceftriaxone belongs to the cephalosporin group of drugs. It kills bacteria by interfering with their cell wall synthesis.
What is ceftriaxone?
Ceftriaxone is the name given to an antibiotic that has potent activity. It comes from the 3rd generation cephalosporins and can be used against various infections caused by bacteria. These include, for example, meningitis or sepsis. Ceftriaxone was developed in the early 1980s by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-LaRoche. In 1982, the antibiotic entered the market and was sold as an injection preparation. Several generic versions are also available.
Pharmacologic action
Compared with 1st- and 2nd-generation cephalosporins, the effect of ceftriaxone is somewhat extended in the Gram-negative range. In contrast, there is a slight attenuation in the gram-positive range. Gram-negative and gram-positive are the different staining reactions in laboratory tests. In a special staining process, gram-positive bacteria acquire a blue color, while gram-negative bacteria turn reddish, which is due to the different cell structures of the germs. Ceftriaxone is classified as a beta-lactam antibiotic. The drug has the property of inhibiting the construction of the cell walls during the growth period of the bacteria. In the process, proteins that bind penicillin are blocked, which results in the death of the pathogens. Ceftriaxone is a beitbandcephalosporin. This means that it is suitable for the treatment of many different types of bacteria. The antibiotic can also be used against bacteria that are endowed with the protein beta-lactamase, which inhibits the effectiveness of other cephalosporins. Because ceftriaxone is poorly absorbed by the intestine, it must be administered by infusion. In this way, the active ingredient enters the patient’s bloodstream directly. Once ceftriaxone has bound to plasma proteins, it is distributed throughout the body. While 60 percent of the drug passes out of the body via urine, the remaining excretion takes place via bile and stool. It takes approximately six to eight hours for about 50 percent of ceftriaxone to leave the organism.
Medical use and application
Ceftriaxone is used against various bacterial infections. These include diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as bacterial meningitis, pronounced infections of the ear, nose, and throat, abdominal infections, blood poisoning, infections of the draining urinary tract as well as the kidneys, and an outbreak of Lyme disease. Likewise, the antibiotic is suitable for the treatment of infections of joints and bones. As already mentioned, the administration of Ceftriaxone takes place through the administration of an infusion. The drug is injected either intravenously into a vein or intramuscularly into a muscle. The dosage of the drug depends on the type and extent of the disease and the age of the person affected. In case of kidney weakness, the dose may need to be lowered. How long ceftriaxone is administered is determined by the attending physician on an individual basis.
Risks and side effects
Taking ceftriaxone can sometimes cause undesirable side effects. In most cases, these are precipitation of the ceftriaxone calcium salts within the gallbladder and the formation of gallstones. Children are particularly affected. Other common side effects include chills, drug fever, joint pain, headache, redness of the skin, rash, itching, edema (water retention) in the tissues, hives, inflammation of the vein wall, flushing, nausea, and pain at the injection site. It is also not uncommon to experience an increase in liver enzymes. Occasionally, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, frequent urination, inflammation of the tongue, inflammation of the oral mucosa, soft stools, and fungal infections in the mouth or pubic region also occur. If ceftriaxone is administered for a prolonged period of time, the colon may be invaded by resistant bacteria. Likewise, fungal infection of this region is possible, which in turn results in intestinal inflammation associated with diarrhea. In addition, there is a risk of superinfections.Ceftriaxone must not be used if the patient is hypersensitive to the active substance or other beta-lactam antibiotics. If the patient suffers from other allergies, the doctor must be consulted before the drug is taken. Ceftriaxone is able to cross the mother’s placenta during pregnancy and enter the amniotic fluid. However, damage to unborn children has not yet been recorded as a result. Nevertheless, pregnant women are advised to take the antibiotic only on the explicit advice of a doctor, especially at the beginning of pregnancy. Caution is also advised during breastfeeding. Small amounts of the active ingredient can enter breast milk and be passed on to the baby. As a result, there is a risk of diarrhea or colonization with |spore fungi, which trigger intestinal inflammation. Sometimes sensitization to ceftriaxone also occurs, which can lead to impaired efficacy when administered at a later time. Babies receiving concurrent calcium treatment must not be given ceftriaxone. This poses the risk of chemical incompatibilities with sometimes serious consequences. Interactions with other drugs are also possible when taking ceftriaxone. For example, the drug’s effect is weakened or cancelled out if the patient takes growth-inhibiting antibiotics at the same time. For this reason, patients should refrain from taking erythromycin, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, or tetracyclines. Conversely, ceftriaxone causes attenuation of hormonal preparations used to prevent pregnancy.
