Cefuroxime | Penicillin

Cefuroxime

Cefuroxime is an antibiotic from the group of cephalosporins. It is usually administered only after the effect against the antibiotic causing the infection has been proven. This is tested by a laboratory test.Cefuroxime is also administered prophylactically during surgery, as well as in case of perforation of the appendix or contaminated wounds during surgery.

A so-called enterococcal gap must be considered with cefuroxime. This means that antibiotic is not effective against intestinal bacteria. In addition, an existing penicillin allergy can lead to cross reactions. With a well-known Penicillinallergie should be thus refrained from the income of Cefuroxim and be seized to another antibiotic.

Contraindications

In case of an allergy to penicillin or cephalosporin, penicillins should not be given under any circumstances, as this can lead to life-threatening complications. In children, nursing mothers and pregnant women should rather switch to alternative antibiotics. In cases of severe kidney and liver failure, the use of penicillins must be carefully considered. If the patient already has a tendency to convulsions or neurological disorders, a lowered convulsive threshold with resulting convulsions must be feared when penicillin is administered.

Fields of application

The field of treatable bacteria is large and depends on the penicillin chosen. Basically, penicillins have their field of application in the control of streptococci of all kinds. Especially pneumococcus (pneumonia), meningococcus (meningitis) and gonococcus (lues) but also erysipelas can be treated with penicillin.

Narrow-spectrum pumpicillins are effective against gram-positive bacteria (cocci, rods, spirochetes) and gram-negative bacteria (penicillinase-forming staphylococci). Wound infections and infections of the bones are also usually treated with penicillins. Broad-spectrum penicillins are effective against enterococci and numerous gram-negative rods (Haemophilus , E. Coli).

Penicillins, together with cephalosporins and carbapenems, belong to the beta-lactam antibiotics and are the best known and most frequently prescribed class of antibiotics. A distinction is made between the two groups Narrow-spectrum penicillins and broad-spectrum penicillins. The first group includes benzylpenicillins (penicillin G and depot penicillins), phenoxypenicillins (oral penicillins=penicillin V, propicilin, acidocillin), isoxazolylpenicillins (oxacillin, dicloxacillin, flucloxacillin). Broad-spectrum antibiotics include the aminopenicillins (ampicillin, amoxicillin, bacampicillin, pivampicillin), carboxypenicillins (ticarcillin, temocillin, carindacillin), acylaminopenicillins (azlocillin), mezlocillin, apalcillin, piperacillin), amidinopenicillins (mecillinamine), penicillins with beta-lactamine inhibitors (amoxicillin+clavulanic acid, ampicillin+sulbactam, piperacillin+tazobactam, sulbactam).