From the Guidelines
Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. It belongs to the beta-lactam class of antibiotics and has an expanded spectrum of activity compared to first-generation cephalosporins, as noted in the study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 1. Some key points about cefuroxime include:
- It is effective against many gram-positive bacteria and has improved activity against gram-negative organisms, including Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and some Enterobacteriaceae.
- It is commonly used to treat various infections including respiratory tract infections, otitis media, sinusitis, urinary tract infections, and skin infections.
- Cefuroxime is available in both oral form (cefuroxime axetil) and injectable form (cefuroxime sodium), with the oral form typically coming in 250mg and 500mg tablets.
- The mechanism of action of cefuroxime involves inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins, which leads to bacterial cell death, and it has greater stability against beta-lactamase enzymes produced by certain bacteria, giving it a broader spectrum of activity compared to first-generation cephalosporins, as discussed in the context of treating acute bacterial sinusitis 1.
From the Research
Cefuroxime Generation
Characteristics of Second-Generation Cephalosporins
- Second-generation cephalosporins have a broad spectrum of activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms 2.
- They are relatively stable against beta-lactamase hydrolysis, which makes them effective against bacteria that produce beta-lactamases 3, 5.