Treatment of Haemophilus influenzae infection with Cefdinir?

From the Guidelines

Cefdinir is an appropriate alternative treatment for Haemophilus influenzae infection, as stated in the guidelines by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1. The recommended dosage for cefdinir in the treatment of Haemophilus influenzae infection is not explicitly stated in the provided guidelines, but according to other sources, the typical dosage for adults is 300 mg taken orally twice daily for 10 days, and for children, the dosage is 14 mg/kg/day divided into two doses, not to exceed 600 mg daily. Some key points to consider when treating Haemophilus influenzae infection with cefdinir include:

• Completing the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms improve earlier
• Monitoring for side effects and ensuring the infection clears completely
• Considering alternative treatments, such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, if there's suspected resistance or allergy to cephalosporins
• Cultures and sensitivity testing may be warranted to guide antibiotic selection in cases of recurrent or particularly severe infections It's also important to note that cefdinir has been shown to be effective in eradicating Haemophilus influenzae in patients with recurrent acute otitis media, with an eradication rate of 72% 1. In terms of cross-reactivity with penicillin, cefdinir is considered to be a safe option for patients with a history of penicillin allergy, as the chemical structure of cefdinir determines the risk of cross-reactivity, and it is highly unlikely to be associated with cross-reactivity with penicillin 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Cefdinir for oral suspension is indicated for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the conditions listed below Adults and Adolescents Community-Acquired Pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenzae (including β-lactamase producing strains) Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae (including β-lactamase producing strains) Acute Maxillary Sinusitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae (including β-lactamase producing strains) Pediatric Patients Acute Bacterial Otitis Media caused by Haemophilus influenzae (including β-lactamase producing strains)

Treatment of Haemophilus influenzae infection with Cefdinir:

• Cefdinir is indicated for the treatment of Haemophilus influenzae infections, including community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, acute maxillary sinusitis, and acute bacterial otitis media.
• The drug is effective against β-lactamase producing strains of Haemophilus influenzae.
• However, β-lactamase negative, ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) H. influenzae strains are typically non-susceptible to cefdinir 2.

From the Research

Treatment of Haemophilus influenzae infection with Cefdinir

• Cefdinir is an oral third-generation cephalosporin with good in vitro activity against Haemophilus influenzae, as well as other common respiratory tract pathogens 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
• The drug is stable to hydrolysis by commonly occurring plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases and retains good activity against beta-lactamase-producing strains of H. influenzae 3, 4, 5, 7.
• Cefdinir has been shown to be effective in the treatment of respiratory tract infections, including those caused by H. influenzae, in adults, adolescents, and pediatric patients 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
• The clinical efficacy of cefdinir against H. influenzae has been demonstrated in several studies, with susceptibility rates ranging from 97.1 to 99.0% 6.
• Cefdinir can be administered once or twice daily for 5 or 10 days, depending on the infection being treated, and is generally well tolerated 3, 4, 5, 7.

Dosage and Administration

• The recommended dosage of cefdinir for the treatment of H. influenzae infections is 300 mg twice daily or 600 mg once daily in adults and adolescents, or 14 mg/kg/day in one or two daily doses in pediatric patients 3.
• Cefdinir can be administered with or without food, and the oral suspension has been shown to have superior taste or palatability over other comparator oral antimicrobial agents 3.

Efficacy and Safety

• Cefdinir has been shown to be effective and safe in the treatment of H. influenzae infections, with a low incidence of adverse events, including diarrhea, which is the most common adverse event reported 3, 4, 5, 7.
• The efficacy and safety of cefdinir have been demonstrated in several clinical trials, including those conducted in adults, adolescents, and pediatric patients 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.