What organisms is Cefdricole (Cephalosporin) effective against?

Organisms Covered by Cefdinir

Cefdinir is effective against Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible strains only), Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-susceptible strains only), Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. 1

Spectrum of Activity

Gram-Positive Bacteria

• Confirmed clinical efficacy against:

  • Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible strains only)
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-susceptible strains only)
  • Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A streptococci)

• In vitro activity but clinical efficacy not established:

  • Staphylococcus epidermidis (methicillin-susceptible strains only)
  • Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B streptococci)
  • Viridans group streptococci

Gram-Negative Bacteria

• Confirmed clinical efficacy against:

  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Haemophilus parainfluenzae
  • Moraxella catarrhalis (formerly Branhamella catarrhalis)

• In vitro activity but clinical efficacy not established:

  • Citrobacter koseri
  • Escherichia coli
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • Proteus mirabilis

Antimicrobial Properties

Cefdinir is a third-generation oral cephalosporin that works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis 1. It demonstrates bactericidal activity against susceptible organisms, with a significant post-antibiotic effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria 2.

The drug exhibits rapid bactericidal activity at concentrations 2-4 times the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), with a 99.9% reduction in colony-forming units observed after 6-8 hours for many isolates 2.

Clinical Relevance and Comparison

Cefdinir demonstrates several advantages in its antimicrobial coverage:

• It has activity against S. pneumoniae comparable to second-generation cephalosporins like cefuroxime axetil and cefpodoxime proxetil 3
• Unlike cefixime and ceftibuten, cefdinir maintains good activity against S. pneumoniae, making it a suitable agent for acute bacterial sinusitis 4
• It does not have the high prevalence of serum sickness-like reactions associated with cefaclor 4

Important Limitations

It's crucial to recognize that cefdinir has several important limitations in its coverage:

• Not effective against:
  • Enterobacter species
  • Pseudomonas species
  • Enterococcus species
  • Penicillin-resistant streptococci
  • Methicillin-resistant staphylococci
  • β-lactamase negative, ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) H. influenzae 1
  • Drug-resistant S. pneumoniae (DRSP) 3
  • Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms 5

Clinical Considerations

When considering cefdinir for treatment:

1. Resistance patterns: Be aware that cefdinir is inactive against most strains of Enterobacter species, Pseudomonas species, and methicillin-resistant staphylococci 1

2. Renal function: Dosage adjustment is required in patients with markedly compromised renal function (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) as cefdinir is primarily eliminated via renal excretion 1

3. Pediatric use: The suspension formulation is well-accepted among children due to its superior taste compared to other cephalosporins like cefpodoxime proxetil 3

Cefdinir remains an important oral cephalosporin option for treating susceptible infections, particularly respiratory tract infections caused by the specified organisms, but clinicians should be aware of its limitations against resistant pathogens.