Zacef

Zacef belongs to the beta-lactam antibacterial drugs of the third generation cephalosporin group.

Other trade names of the drug: Ceftazidime, Ceftidine, Vicef, Kefadim, Sudocef, Tazicef, Tizim, Fortazim, etc.

Indications Zacef

Indications for use of this drug include the treatment of systemic and local infections: bacteremia and sepsis; inflammation in the abdominal cavity (peritonitis) and membranes of the brain (meningitis); infected wounds and burns; infectious diseases of the respiratory tract and lungs, gastrointestinal tract, biliary and urinary tract, musculoskeletal system.

Zacef can be used to treat infections that occur during hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Release form

Powder for preparation of injection solution (1 g vials).

Pharmacodynamics

The pharmacodynamics of the drug is based on its active substance – beta-lactam antibiotic ceftazidime pentahydrate, which inactivates the bacterial enzyme transpeptidase. As a result of the deficiency of this enzyme, the process of synthesis of the biopolymer peptide (murein) – the main component of the cell walls of microbes – is blocked. In addition, Zacef releases autolytic enzymes of the cell membrane of microorganisms, which causes its irreversible damage and leads to the death of bacteria.

The drug exhibits a bactericidal effect against many gram-negative (including Pseudomonas aeruginosa), as well as some gram-positive microbes (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis), which are resistant to aminoglycoside antibiotics.

However, Zacef does not work on bacteria such as Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter spp.

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Pharmacokinetics

After intramuscular administration of a standard dose, Zacef quickly enters the bloodstream, and within 5 minutes the required concentration of the drug is created in the blood, which remains for 8-12 hours; the maximum concentration is reached after approximately 60 minutes.

After intravenous administration of the drug, the highest concentration in the blood is observed on average after 25 minutes. Up to 10% of the antibiotic binds to blood plasma proteins. The drug also gets into all fluids inside the body, into muscle tissue and bones, into the placenta and breast milk.

In the body, the active substance Zacef (ceftazidime) is not subject to biotransformation, but is eliminated by the kidneys in an active form. The half-life is about 120 minutes. Almost 90% of the administered drug is excreted in the urine within 24 hours, and no more than 1% in the bile (through the intestine).

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Dosing and administration

The method of administration of the drug Zacef is parenteral (intravenous jet or intramuscular injections).

The dosage is determined by the doctor depending on the diagnosis. The standard dose for adults is 1-6 g per day (2-3 injections, every 8 or 12 hours). For older patients, the maximum daily dose of Zacef is 3 g.

For children under two months of age, Zacef is prescribed at 25-50 mg per kilogram of body weight (two injections per day). For children aged 2-24 months - 50-100 mg per kilogram of body weight (2-3 injections per day). For meningitis, as well as the presence of immunodeficiency or hereditary cystic fibrosis - 150 mg per kilogram of body weight (3 injections per day).

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Use Zacef during pregnancy

The use of Zacef during pregnancy and lactation is contraindicated.

Contraindications

This drug has contraindications for use such as individual hypersensitivity to ceftazidime or other antibiotics of the cephalosporin group.

Side effects Zacef

The most likely side effects of using Zacef are:

• burning and pain at the injection site;
• inflammation of the vein wall at the injection site;
• headache and dizziness;
• itchy urticaria or measles-like skin rash;
• redness of the skin (including exudative erythema);
• subfebrile body temperature;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, epigastric pain;
• candidal inflammation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity (due to the addition of a fungal infection);
• taste disturbance;
• inflammation of the mucous membrane of the vagina or colon;
• numbness and tingling in the limbs (paresthesia), tremor;
• bronchospasm;
• deterioration of kidney function;
• blood composition disorders (leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphocytosis, agranulocytosis);
• angioedema.

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Overdose

Overdose of this drug may cause various disorders of brain functions, seizures, comatose state. In such cases, symptomatic treatment is carried out; hemodialysis may be required to reduce the concentration of the drug in the blood.

Interactions with other drugs

Concomitant use of Zacef and the antibiotics Clindamycin and Vancomycin leads to an increase in the concentration of ceftazidime pentahydrate in the blood plasma.

The effectiveness of Zacef is reduced when used simultaneously with antibiotics with bacteriostatic action. Zacef (like all cephalosporins) is incompatible with antibiotics of the Levomycetin group (Levomycetin, Syntomycin, Chloramphenicol, Detreomycin, Levovinizol, etc.).

Zacef is incompatible with direct-acting anticoagulants (heparin). Parallel treatment with drugs that have a toxic effect on the kidneys should be carried out while monitoring kidney function.

Sodium bicarbonate solution, which reduces the stability of the injection solution, must not be used as a solvent for Zacef.

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Storage conditions

Store in a place protected from light, t< +25°С.

Shelf life

Shelf life: 2 years.