ZINACEF ® (cefuroxime for injection)
Generic Name and Formulations:
Cefuroxime (as sodium) 750mg, 1.5g; IM or IV inj; sodium content 2.4mEq/g.
Company:
Teligent, Inc.

Select therapeutic use: Bacterial infections
Indications for ZINACEF:
Susceptible bacterial septicemia, lower respiratory or urinary tract, skin and skin structure, meningitis, bone and joint infections, gonorrhea. Surgical prophylaxis.

Adult:
Use IV route for serious infections. Usual duration of therapy: 5–10 days. Uncomplicated UTIs, skin and skin structure, disseminated gonorrhea, or uncomplicated pneumonia: 750mg every 8 hours. Severe or complicated infections, bone and joint: 1.5g every 8 hours; life-threatening: 1.5g every 6 hours; meningitis: max 3g every 8 hours. Uncomplicated gonorrhea: 1.5g IM once (divide into 2 injections) with 1g oral probenecid. Prophylaxis: see literature. Renal dysfunction: CrCl 10–20mL/min: 750mg every 12 hours; CrCl <10mL/min: 750mg every 24 hours. Coincide a dose for end of dialysis.

Children:
<3 months: not recommended. Give in equally divided doses. ≥3 months: usual range: 50–100mg/kg per day every 6–8 hours. Bone and joint: 150mg/kg per day every 8 hours. Meningitis: 200–240mg/kg per day IV every 6–8 hours. Renal dysfunction: reduce dose.

Warnings/Precautions:
Penicillin allergy. Renal impairment, reduce dose. Monitor prothrombin time (in patients at risk), renal function. GI disease (esp. colitis). Elderly. Pregnancy (Cat.B). Nursing mothers.

Interactions:
Avoid aminoglycosides, furosemide, ethacrynic acid, other nephrotoxic drugs. May cause false (+) glucose test with Clinitest, Benedict's or Fehling's soln. Potentiated by probenecid.

Pharmacological Class:
Cephalosporin.

Adverse Reactions:
Local reactions, blood dyscrasias, elevated liver enzymes; rarely: GI upset, rash (may be serious, eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome), drug fever, anaphylaxis, interstitial nephritis, seizures, hearing loss in children treated for meningitis.

How Supplied:
Vials—10