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Tazicef (ceftazidime)
Tazicef (ceftazidime) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic for treating infections caused by susceptible organisms.
Side effects of Tazicef
Common side effects include injection site inflammation, itching, rash, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, numbness and tingling, vaginal yeast infection, and oral thrush.
To prevent drug-resistant bacteria, use Tazicef only for proven or suspected bacterial infections.
Dosage for Tazicef
The usual adult dosage is 1 gram intravenously every 8 to 12 hours, determined by organism susceptibility, infection severity, and renal function.
Table 3 shows the recommended dosage schedule for Tazicef:
| Dose | Frequency | |
| Adult | ||
| Usual recommended dosage | 1 gram intravenous | every 8 to 12 hours |
| Uncomplicated urinary tract infection | 250 mg intravenous | every 12 hours |
| Bone and joint infections | 2 grams intravenous | every 12 hours |
| Complicated urinary tract infections | 500 mg intravenous | every 8 to 12 hours |
| Uncomplicated pneumonia; mild skin and skin-structure infections | 500 mg to 1 gram intravenous | every 8 hours |
| Serious gynecological and intra-abdominal infections | 2 grams intravenous | every 8 hours |
| Meningitis | 2 grams intravenous | every 8 hours |
| Very severe life-threatening infections, especially in immunocompromised patients | 2 grams intravenous | every 8 hours |
| Lung infections caused by Pseudomonas spp. in patients with cystic fibrosis with normal renal function* | 30 to 50 mg/kg intravenous to a maximum of 6 grams per day | every 8 hours |
| Neonates (0-4 weeks) | 30 mg/kg intravenous | every 12 hours |
| Infants and children (1 month-12 years) | 30 to 50 mg/kg intravenous to a maximum of 6 grams per day† | every 8 hours |
| * Although clinical improvement has been shown, bacteriologic cures cannot be expected in patients with chronic respiratory disease and cystic fibrosis. †The higher dose should be reserved for immunocompromised pediatric patients or pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis or meningitis. |
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Impaired Hepatic Function
No dosage adjustment is necessary for patients with hepatic dysfunction.
Impaired Renal Function
Table 4 provides recommended maintenance dosages of Tazicef in renal insufficiency:
| Creatinine Clearance (mL/min) | Recommended Unit Dose of Tazicef | Frequency of Dosing |
| 50 to 31 | 1 gram | every 12 hours |
| 30 to 16 | 1 gram | every 24 hours |
| 15 to 6 | 500 mg | every 24 hours |
| less than 5 | 500 mg | every 48 hours |
When only serum creatinine is available, the following formula (Cockcroft’s equation) may be used to estimate creatinine clearance:
Males: Creatinine clearance (mL/min) = Weight (kg) x (140 – age) /72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL)
Females: 0.85 x male value
In severe infections where 6 grams of Tazicef would normally be given daily, increase the unit dose by 50% or adjust the dosing frequency. Further dosing should be based on therapeutic monitoring, infection severity, and organism susceptibility.
In pediatric patients, adjust creatinine clearance for body surface area or lean body mass and reduce dosing frequency in renal insufficiency cases.
In patients undergoing hemodialysis, administer a loading dose of 1 gram followed by 1 gram after each session.
Tazicef can also be used in patients undergoing intraperitoneal dialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. In these patients, administer a loading dose of 1 gram followed by 500 mg every 24 hours. Tazicef can be incorporated in the dialysis fluid at a concentration of 250 mg for 2 L of dialysis fluid.
Continue Tazicef for 2 days after infection signs and symptoms disappear, or longer for complicated infections.
QUESTION
What drugs interact with Tazicef?
- Concomitant administration of cephalosporins with aminoglycosides or potent diuretics may cause nephrotoxicity.
- Monitor renal function, especially with higher aminoglycoside dosages or prolonged therapy, to avoid nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
- The combination of ceftazidime and chloramphenicol should be avoided due to possible antagonism.
- Ceftazidime may affect gut flora, reducing efficacy of combined oral contraceptives.
Is Tazicef safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
- Reproduction studies in animals showed no harm or impaired fertility. Limited data is available for pregnant women.
- Use Tazicef during pregnancy only if necessary.
- Caution is advised when administering Tazicef to nursing women due to low concentrations excreted in breast milk.
Summary
Tazicef (ceftazidime) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic for treating infections caused by susceptible organisms. Common side effects include injection site inflammation, itching, rash, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, numbness and tingling, vaginal yeast infection, and oral thrush.
