Commercial Names of Cefadroxil
Cefadroxil is commercially available as Duricef, which is its primary brand name in the market. 1
Overview of Cefadroxil
Cefadroxil is a first-generation oral cephalosporin antibiotic with the following characteristics:
- Similar in structure and antibacterial spectrum to cephalexin and cephradine, but with different pharmacokinetic properties 1
- Features a longer serum half-life and prolonged duration of activity compared to other first-generation cephalosporins 1
- Can be administered once or twice daily (typically 500 mg PO every 12 hours), improving patient compliance 2, 1
- Absorption is virtually unaffected by food intake, allowing administration with meals 1
Clinical Applications
Cefadroxil is used in various clinical settings:
- Respiratory tract infections (both upper and lower) with reported clinical success rates of 100% and 96%, respectively 3
- Urinary tract infections, where it achieves almost 100% excretion in the urine within six hours 4
- Skin and soft tissue infections 1
- Bone and joint infections 1
- As an alternative to cephalexin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections 5
Antimicrobial Spectrum
Cefadroxil demonstrates activity against:
- Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible) 5
- Beta-hemolytic streptococci 3
- Streptococcus pneumoniae 3
- Klebsiella pneumoniae 3
- Various Enterobacteriaceae in urinary tract infections (non-ESBL producing) 6
Comparison with Other First-Generation Cephalosporins
When compared to similar antibiotics:
- Cefadroxil and cephalexin have similar MIC50 values (2 μg/mL) and MIC90 values (4 μg/mL) against MSSA, suggesting comparable in vitro activity 5
- Cefadroxil achieves higher and more sustained concentrations in body tissues and fluids than cephalexin and cephradine 1
- Due to its pharmacokinetic profile, cefadroxil can be dosed less frequently (once or twice daily) compared to cephalexin's typical four-times-daily dosing 1
Cross-Reactivity Considerations
Important considerations for patients with penicillin allergies:
- Cefadroxil shares R1 side chains with amoxicillin, ampicillin, and other aminocephalosporins 2
- Cross-reactivity risk with penicillins is higher (16.45%, 95% CI: 11.07-23.75) for aminocephalosporins including cefadroxil compared to other cephalosporins 2
- Caution is warranted in patients with confirmed penicillin allergies, particularly those with history of anaphylaxis 2
Clinical Pearls
- While cefadroxil has advantages in certain settings, some hospitals have restricted its use due to concerns about inappropriate prescribing 4
- For uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections, cefadroxil (500 mg twice daily) may serve as a fluoroquinolone-sparing alternative 6
- The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) provides direct susceptibility testing interpretative criteria for cefadroxil 6