Mechanism of action of Cefotetan
The bactericidal action of cefotetan results from inhibition of cell wall synthesis by binding and inhibiting the bacterial penicillin binding proteins which help in the cell wall biosynthesis. Cefotetan is a semisynthetic cephamycin antibiotic that is administered intravenously or intramuscularly. The drug is highly resistant to a broad spectrum of beta-lactamases and is active against a wide range of both aerobic and anaerobic gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms.
Indications of Cefotetan
- Bacterial infections
- Bacterial urinary tract infections
- Bone and joint infections
- Gonorrhea
- Intra-abdominal infections
- Lower respiratory tract infection bacterial
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Cesarean section
- Cholecystitis
- Intraabdominal infection
- Joint infection
- Kidney infections
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Peritonitis
- Pneumonia
- Skin or soft tissue infection
- Surgical prophylaxis
- Urinary tract infection
- Postoperative infections
- Sepsis
Contra-Indications of Cefotetan
- Clostridium difficile infection
- Decrease in the blood-clotting protein prothrombin
- Severe renal impairment
- Inadequate vitamin K
- Hemolytic anemia
- Liver problems
- Interstitial nephritis
- Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Allergies cephalosporins & beta-lactams
Dosage of Cefotetan
Strengths: 10 g; 1 g; 1 g/100 mL; 2 g; 2 g/100 mL; 1 g/50 mL; 2 g/50 mL
Cesarean Section
- 1 to 2 g IV one time, as soon as the umbilical cord is clamped
Cholecystitis
- Moderate: 1 to 2 g IV or IM every 12 hours
- Severe: 2 g IV every 12 hours
- Life-threatening: 3 g IV every 12 hours
- Duration: 7 to 14 days
Intraabdominal Infection
- Moderate: 1 to 2 g IV or IM every 12 hours
- Severe: 2 g IV every 12 hours
- Life-threatening: 3 g IV every 12 hours
- Duration: 7 to 14 days
Joint Infection
- Moderate: 1 to 2 g IV or IM every 12 hours
- Severe: 2 g IV every 12 hours
- Life-threatening: 3 g IV every 12 hours
Osteomyelitis
- Moderate: 1 to 2 g IV or IM every 12 hours
- Severe: 2 g IV every 12 hours
- Life-threatening: 3 g IV every 12 hours
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Moderate: 1 to 2 g IV or IM every 12 hours
- Severe: 2 g IV every 12 hours
- Life-threatening: 3 g IV every 12 hours
Pneumonia
- Moderate: 1 to 2 g IV or IM every 12 hours
- Severe: 2 g IV every 12 hours
- Life-threatening: 3 g IV every 12 hours
Urinary Tract Infection
- Mild: 500 mg IV or IM every 12 hours
- Moderate: 1 to 2 g IV or IM every 24 hours
- Severe: 1 to 2 g IV or IM every 12 hours
- Duration: 3 to 7 days
Pediatric Bacterial Infection
- 1 year or older: 20 to 40 mg/kg IV or IM every 12 hours
Pediatric Surgical Prophylaxis
- 1 year or older: 40 mg/kg IV one time, 30 to 60 minutes prior to surgery
- For cases of ruptured viscus, gentamicin 2 mg/kg may be added.
Side Effects of Cefotetan
The most common
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal or stomach pain, discomfort, or tenderness
- Severe stomach ache
- Severe diarrhea
- Vaginal thrush
- Skin rash
- A headache
- chest pain
- constipation
- a cough
- diarrhea or loose stools
- difficulty with breathing
- dizziness
- heartburn
- muscle pain
More common
- Abdominal or stomach pain, discomfort, or tenderness
- chills or fever
- difficulty with moving
- a headache, severe and throbbing
- joint or back pain
- muscle aching or cramping
- muscle pains or stiffness
- chest pressure or squeezing pain in the chest
- discomfort in arms, shoulders, neck or upper back
- excessive sweating
- feeling of heaviness, pain, warmth and/or swelling in a leg or in the pelvis
- sudden tingling or coldness in an arm or leg
- sudden slow or difficult speech
- sudden drowsiness or need to sleep
- fast breathing
- sharp pain when taking a deep breath
- fast or slow heartbeat
- coughing up blood
- rust colored urine
- decreased amount of urine
Rare
- Anxiety
- change in vision
- seizures
- abnormal or fast heart rate
- tremors
- weight loss
- chest pain or tightness
- confusion
- cough
- Agitation
- arm, back, or jaw pain
- blurred vision
- chest pain or discomfort
- convulsions
- extra heartbeats
- fainting
- hallucinations
- headache
- irritability
- lightheadedness
- mood or mental changes
- muscle pain or cramps
- muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
Drug Interactions of Cefotetan
Cefotetan may interact with following drugs, supplements, & may change the efficacy of drugs
- aminoglycoside antibiotics (e.g., gentamicin, tobramycin)
- probenecid
- typhoid vaccine
- cholera vaccine,
- amoxicillin
- Aspirin Low Strength (aspirin)
- Diphenhydramine
- Rosuvastatin
- Duloxetine
- Albuterol
- Topiramate
- Carbamazepine
- Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
- Alprazolam
- Cetirizine
- Phenprocoumon
- Picosulfuric acid
- Warfarin
Pregnancy Catagory of Cefotetan
FDA Pregnancy Category B
Pregnancy
It is not known if cefotetan is safe for use by pregnant women. This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.
Lactation
This medication may pass into breast milk. If you are a breastfeeding mother and are taking cefotetan it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breastfeeding. It is not known if cefotetan is safe for children under 6 months of age.
References
