What does Maxipime (cefepime) treat?

From the Guidelines

Maxipime (cefepime) is a fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat a variety of serious bacterial infections, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, skin infections, intra-abdominal infections, and febrile neutropenia, as recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Thoracic Society 1.

Key Uses of Maxipime

• Pneumonia: Maxipime is effective against many gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and some gram-positive organisms, making it a suitable option for treating pneumonia, including hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) 1.
• Urinary Tract Infections: It is used to treat complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis.
• Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: Maxipime can be used to treat skin and soft tissue infections caused by susceptible bacteria.
• Intra-abdominal Infections: It is effective against infections of the abdomen, including those caused by gram-negative bacteria.
• Febrile Neutropenia: Maxipime is used to treat fever in patients with low white blood cell counts, a condition known as febrile neutropenia.

Administration and Dosage

• Maxipime is typically administered intravenously in hospital settings.
• Dosages range from 1-2 grams every 8-12 hours, depending on the infection severity and the patient's kidney function 1.
• Treatment duration usually ranges from 7-14 days based on the type and severity of infection.

Important Considerations

• Patients should be monitored for potential side effects, including allergic reactions, seizures (especially in those with kidney impairment), and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.
• Kidney function tests are important during treatment, as dosage adjustments may be necessary for patients with renal impairment.
• The choice of antibiotic should be guided by local resistance patterns and susceptibility testing when possible, as recommended by guidelines 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Cefepime for injection, USP is indicated in the treatment of the following infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms: Pneumonia (moderate to severe) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, including cases associated with concurrent bacteremia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiellapneumoniae, or Enterobacter species. Empiric Therapy for Febrile Neutropenic Patients. Uncomplicated and Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (including pyelonephritis) caused by Escherichia coli or Klebsiellapneumoniae, when the infection is severe, or caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae, or Proteus mirabilis, when the infection is mild to moderate, including cases associated with concurrent bacteremia with these microorganisms Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible isolates only) or Streptococcus pyogenes. Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections (used in combination with metronidazole) caused by Escherichia coli, viridans group streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Enterobacterspecies, or Bacteroidesfragilis.

Maxipime (cefepime) treats:

• Pneumonia (moderate to severe)
• Febrile Neutropenic Patients (empiric therapy)
• Urinary Tract Infections (uncomplicated and complicated, including pyelonephritis)
• Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections
• Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections (used in combination with metronidazole) 2

From the Research

Overview of Maxipime (Cefepime)

Maxipime, also known as cefepime, is a fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat various bacterial infections.

Conditions Treated by Maxipime

• Pneumonia: Maxipime is effective against many organisms that cause pneumonia, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria 3, 4, 5.
• Urinary Tract Infections: Maxipime can be used to treat uncomplicated and complicated urinary tract infections 4.
• Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections: Maxipime is approved for the treatment of skin and soft-tissue infections 4.
• Intra-abdominal Infections: Maxipime can be used to treat intra-abdominal infections, including those caused by multi-resistant strains of Gram-negative bacteria 6, 4.
• Febrile Neutropenia: Maxipime is effective in treating febrile neutropenia, particularly in patients with fever and neutropenia 7, 4.
• Bacteraemia and Septicaemia: Maxipime has been shown to be effective in treating bacteraemia and septicaemia, including cases caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter cloacae 3, 6.
• Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: Maxipime is effective against lower respiratory tract infections, including those caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae 7, 5.

Key Characteristics of Maxipime

• Broad-spectrum antibacterial activity: Maxipime has a broad spectrum of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multi-resistant strains 3, 7, 6, 4.
• Stability against beta-lactamases: Maxipime is stable against many common plasmid- and chromosomally-mediated beta-lactamases, making it effective against bacteria that are resistant to other cephalosporins 3, 7.
• Good tolerability profile: Maxipime is generally well-tolerated, with a tolerability profile similar to other parenteral cephalosporins 3, 7, 6.