What is the antimicrobial coverage of Cefuroxime (Cephalosporin, second-generation antibiotic)?

From the Guidelines

Cefuroxime provides broad-spectrum coverage against a variety of bacterial pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis 1.

Key Points

• The antimicrobial coverage of cefuroxime includes:
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae: cefuroxime axetil has similar activity to cefpodoxime and cefdinir against this pathogen 1
  • Haemophilus influenzae: cefuroxime axetil is less active than cefpodoxime against this pathogen 1
  • Moraxella catarrhalis: cefuroxime axetil has significant activity against this pathogen 1
• The typical dose for adults is 250-500mg every 12 hours, with a duration of treatment ranging from 5-10 days depending on the specific infection being treated 1
• Cefuroxime axetil, an oral formulation, is often prescribed at a dose of 250-500mg twice daily, while cefuroxime sodium, an intravenous formulation, is typically administered at a dose of 750-1500mg every 8 hours 1

Important Considerations

• Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin with a broad spectrum of activity, but its effectiveness against certain pathogens may be limited by resistance patterns 1
• The choice of antibiotic therapy should be based on the severity of the disease, the likelihood of resistance, and the patient's medical history and risk factors 1

From the FDA Drug Label

Cefuroxime has been shown to be active against most isolates of the following bacteria, both in vitro and in clinical infections as described in the INDICATIONS AND USAGE section: Gram-negative bacteria Enterobacter spp. Escherichia coli Klebsiella spp Haemophilus influenzae Neisseria meningitidis Neisseria gonorrhoeae Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus pneumoniae Streptococcus pyogenes

The antimicrobial coverage of Cefuroxime includes:

• Gram-negative bacteria:
  • Enterobacter spp.
  • Escherichia coli
  • Klebsiella spp
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Neisseria meningitidis
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Gram-positive bacteria:
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Streptococcus pyogenes 2

From the Research

Antimicrobial Coverage of Cefuroxime

The antimicrobial coverage of Cefuroxime, a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic, includes:

• Methicillin-sensitive staphylococci 3
• Common respiratory pathogens such as:
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
  • Haemophilus influenzae 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
  • Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis 3, 4, 5, 7
  • Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci 3, 4
• Beta-lactamase positive respiratory pathogens such as H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis 3, 4
• Penicillin-susceptible and -intermediate strains of S. pneumoniae 3
• Enterobacteria such as:
  • Escherichia coli 4
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae 4
  • Proteus mirabilis 4
  • Salmonella and Shigella 4
• Methicillin-sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus 4

Spectrum of Activity

Cefuroxime has a broad spectrum of in vitro antibacterial activity, covering most pathogens isolated in lower respiratory tract infections, including those producing beta-lactamases 3, 4, 6. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cefuroxime is a good predictor of clinical efficacy, with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 83%, and a positive predictive value of 97% 6.

Clinical Efficacy

Cefuroxime axetil, the oral form of cefuroxime, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of various infections, including:

• Upper and lower respiratory tract infections 3, 4, 5
• Genito-urinary tract infections 4, 5
• Skin and soft tissue infections 4, 5
• Early stage Lyme disease 3, 5
• Sinusitis 7