From the Guidelines
Rocephin (ceftriaxone) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that effectively treats a wide range of bacterial infections, including those caused by gram-negative bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophilus influenzae, and many Enterobacteriaceae, as well as some gram-positive organisms like Streptococcus pneumoniae and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) 1.
Common Uses of Rocephin
- Gonorrhea: Rocephin is recommended for the treatment of gonorrhea, including gonococcal urethritis, cervix, rectum, and conjunctivitis, with a dose of 125-250 mg IM in a single dose or 1 g IM in a single dose for conjunctivitis 1.
- Lyme disease: Rocephin is used to treat Lyme disease, particularly in cases with neurologic involvement or advanced atrioventricular heart block, with a dose of 2 g intravenously once per day for adults 1.
- Other infections: Rocephin is also effective against other bacterial infections, including pneumonia, meningitis, intra-abdominal infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections.
Mechanism of Action and Administration
Rocephin works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, causing cell death. It's typically administered intravenously or intramuscularly at doses ranging from 1-2 grams daily for adults, with treatment duration varying by infection type.
Limitations and Precautions
Rocephin has limited activity against anaerobes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and no activity against MRSA or atypical organisms like Mycoplasma and Chlamydia. Its use should be cautious in patients with impaired renal function, and it's not recommended for patients with a history of severe allergic reactions to cephalosporins or penicillins.
Key Points to Consider
- Always use the most recent and highest-quality evidence to guide treatment decisions, such as the 2024 guidelines from the World Health Organization's Essential Medicines and Aware recommendations 1.
- Consider local resistance patterns and adjust treatment accordingly to ensure effective therapy and minimize the risk of resistance development.
- Monitor patients closely for signs of adverse reactions, such as allergic reactions or gastrointestinal disturbances, and adjust treatment as needed.
From the FDA Drug Label
Ceftriaxone for injection USP is indicated for the treatment of the following infections when caused by susceptible organisms: Lower Respiratory Tract Infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis or Serratia marcescens Acute Bacterial Otitis Media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae (including beta-lactamase producing strains) or Moraxella catarrhalis (including beta-lactamase producing strains) Skin and Skin Structure Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Viridans group streptococci, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Morganella morganii*, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Bacteroides fragilis* or Peptostreptococcus species Urinary Tract Infections (complicated and uncomplicated) caused by Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Morganella morganii or Klebsiella pneumoniae Uncomplicated Gonorrhea (cervical/urethral and rectal) caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including both penicillinase- and nonpenicillinase-producing strains, and pharyngeal gonorrhea caused by nonpenicillinase-producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Pelvic Inflammatory Disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae Bacterial Septicemia caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae or Klebsiella pneumoniae Bone and Joint Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae or Enterobacter species Intra-Abdominal Infections caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium species (Note: most strains of Clostridium difficile are resistant) or Peptostreptococcus species Meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis or Streptococcus pneumoniae
Rocephin (ceftriaxone) covers a wide range of bacterial infections, including:
- Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
- Acute Bacterial Otitis Media
- Skin and Skin Structure Infections
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Uncomplicated Gonorrhea
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Bacterial Septicemia
- Bone and Joint Infections
- Intra-Abdominal Infections
- Meningitis caused by susceptible organisms, as listed above 2.
From the Research
Bacterial Infections Covered by Rocephin (Ceftriaxone)
Rocephin (ceftriaxone) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that covers a wide range of bacterial infections, including:
- Gram-positive aerobic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes 3, 4, 5
- Gram-negative aerobic bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae 3, 6, 4, 5
- Anaerobic bacteria, such as Bacteroides fragilis and other Bacteroides species 6
Specific Infections Treated by Rocephin
Rocephin has been effective in treating various types of infections, including:
- Urinary tract infections, including complicated and uncomplicated cases 3, 6
- Lower respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia 3, 6
- Skin and soft tissue infections, including those caused by staphylococci and streptococci 3, 6, 7
- Bone and joint infections 3
- Bacteremia and septicemia 3, 6
- Paediatric meningitis 3
- Gonorrhoea, including infections caused by non-penicillinase-producing and penicillinase-producing strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae 3
Limitations and Resistance
While Rocephin has a broad spectrum of activity, it is not effective against all types of bacteria, and resistance has been reported in some cases, such as: