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Ceftazidime

    Brands

    DEA Class; Rx

    Common Brand Names; Fortaz, Tazicef, Tazidime

    • Cephalosporins, 3rd Generation

    Parenteral third-generation cephalosporin
    Extremely active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; used for lower respiratory tract infections, skin and soft-tissue infections, UTIs, bone and joint infections, and meningitis
    Limited use for empiric monotherapy for neutropenic fever due to emergence of resistant pathogens and poor gram-positive activity

    Indicated for the treatment of bone and joint infections, including osteomyelitis.

    For the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), including pneumonia, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), and nosocomial pneumonia.
    For the treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI).
    For the treatment of gynecologic infections, including endometritis and pelvic cellulitis.
    For the treatment of central nervous system infections, including meningitis.
    For the treatment of skin and skin structure infections, including diabetic foot ulcer.
    For the treatment of intraabdominal infections, including peritonitis, appendicitis, intraabdominal abscess, and peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis.

    Documented hypersensitivity to drug or excipients, or to cephalosporin class of antibacterial drugs, penicillins or other beta-lactam antibacterial drugs

    • Transient increases in transaminases (3-9%)
    • Eosinophilia (<7%)
    • Diarrhea (<2%)
    • Immune hypersensitivity reaction (2%)
    • Phlebitis (<2%)
    • Rash (maculopapular or erythematous) (2%)
    • Thrombocytosis (2%)
    • Injection site pain (1%)
    • Abdominal pain
    • Agranulocytosis
    • Angioedema
    • Asterixis
    • Coma
    • Dizziness
    • Encephalopathy
    • Fever
    • Hallucinations
    • Increased serum concentrations of bilirubin
    • Leukopenia
    • Lymphocytosis
    • Metallic taste
    • Myoclonia
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Neuromuscular excitability
    • Neutropenia
    • Paresthesia
    • Photosensitivity
    • Pruritus
    • Seizures
    • Thrombocytopenia
    • Transient increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) or serum creatinine
    • Urticaria

    High and prolonged serum ceftazidime concentrations can occur from usual dosages in patients with transient or persistent reduction of urinary output because of renal insufficiency; elevated levels of the drug in these patients can lead to, seizures, nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), encephalopathy, coma, asterixis, neuromuscular excitability, and myoclonus reported in patients treated with ceftazidime; adjust dosing based on creatinine clearance in patients with renal impairment

    Elevated international normalized ratio (INR) has reported in patients with nutritional deficiency, prolonged treatment, or renal or hepatic disease

    Use with caution in patients with history of seizure disorder (especially in renal impairment, where drug levels may increase significantly)

    Modify dose in renal impairment

    Use with caution in patients with history of penicillin allergy

    Prescribing the drug in the absence of proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria

    Pregnancy category: B

    Lactation: Drug excreted in breast milk; use with caution

    Adults

    6 g/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 12 g/day have been used off-label for cystic fibrosis.

    Geriatric

    6 g/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 12 g/day have been used off-label for cystic fibrosis.

    Adolescents

    6 g/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 400 mg/kg/day (Max: 12 g/day) have been used off-label for cystic fibrosis.

    Children

    150 mg/kg/day (Max: 6 g/day) IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 400 mg/kg/day (Max: 12 g/day) have been used off-label for cystic fibrosis.

    Infants

    150 mg/kg/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 400 mg/kg/day have been used off-label for cystic fibrosis.

    Neonates

    8 days and older: 60 mg/kg/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 150 mg/kg/day have been used off-label.
    0 to 7 days: 60 mg/kg/day IV/IM is FDA-approved maximum dosage; however, doses up to 100 mg/kg/day have been used off-label.

    Ceftazidime

    injectable solution

    • 20mg/mL
    • 40mg/mL

    powder for injection

    • 500mg
    • 1g
    • 2g
    • 6g