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Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Zinacef, others |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a601206 |
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Routes of administration | Intramuscular, intravenous, by mouth |
Drug class | Second-generation cephalosporin |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 37% on an empty stomach, up to 52% if taken after food |
Elimination half-life | 80 minutes |
Excretion | Urine 66–100% unchanged |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.054.127 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C16H16N4O8S |
Molar mass | 424.38 g·mol−1 |
3D model (JSmol) | |
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Cefuroxime, sold under the brand name Zinacef among others, is a second-generation cephalosporin[2] antibiotic used to treat and prevent a number of bacterial infections.[3] These include pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media, sepsis, urinary tract infections, and Lyme disease.[4] It is used by mouth or by injection into a vein or muscle.[4]
Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, allergic reactions, and pain at the site of injection.[4] Serious side effects may include Clostridioides difficile infection, anaphylaxis, and Stevens–Johnson syndrome.[4] Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is believed to be safe.[5] It is a second-generation cephalosporin and works by interfering with a bacteria's ability to make a cell wall resulting in its death.[4]
Cefuroxime was patented in 1971 and approved for medical use in 1977.[6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[7] In 2022, it was the 283rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 600,000 prescriptions.[8][9]