Cefepime

Mechanism :

Cefepime is a semi-synthetic broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic intended for IM or IV administration. Cefepime is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. It has a broad spectrum of activity against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Indication :

• Pneumonia (moderate to severe)
• Empiric therapy for febrile neutropenic patients
• Urinary tract infections
• Complicated intra-abdominal infections

Contraindications :

In patients who have had previous hypersensitivity reactions to cefepime or the cephalosporin class of antibiotics, penicillins or other beta-lactam antibiotics.

Dosing :

Adverse Effect :

Positive coomb’s test without hemolysis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, colitis (including pseudomembranous colitis), hypersensitivity reactions-rash, pruritus, urticaria, headache, fever, transient- elevations in ALT/AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time, anemia, eosinophilia, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, toxic nephropathy, aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, hemorrhage, false positive test for urinary glucose and pancytopenia.

Interaction :

Aminoglycosides: Renal function should be monitored carefully if high doses of aminoglycosides are to be administered with cefepime because of the increased potential of nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Nephrotoxicity has been reported following concomitant administration of other cephalosporins with potent diuretics such as furosemide.
Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions: The administration of cefepime may result in a false-positive reaction for glucose in the urine when using Clinitest tablets. It is recommended that glucose tests based on enzymatic glucose oxidase reactions be used.

Hepatic Dose :