5.1.2.1 Cephalosporins

Cefalexin

• Capsules 250mg (£2.12 = 28 pack), 500mg (£2.47 = 21 pack)
• Oral suspension 125mg/5ml, 250mg/5ml (£3.70, £4.11 = 100ml)

Indications

• Pyelonephritis (acute)
  • Non-pregnant women and men aged 16 years and over
  • Pregnant women aged 12 years and over
  • Children and young people under 16 years
• Pregnant women ≥12 years with UTI (lower) - (second line)
• UTI (lower) in children and young people aged 3 months to 16 years - (second line)
• Catheter-associated UTI
  • Non-pregnant women and men aged 16 years and over with upper UTI symptoms
  • Pregnant women aged 12 years and over
  • Children and young people aged 3 months to 16 years
• Recurrent UTI in non-pregnant women - (second line)

Ceftriaxone

• Powder for solution for injection vial 250mg, 1g, 2g (£9.58 = 1g vial)

Indications

• Suspected meningococcal disease (second line)
• Lyme disease (via outpatient or home parenteral antibiotic therapy service where available)
• Gonorrhoea
• Pelvic inflammatory disease - plus doxycycline and metronidazole

Notes

1. MHRA Drug Safety Update (October 2009): Ceftriaxone should not be given simultaneously with calcium containing solutions (other than total parenteral nutrition solutions) for IV administration because of the risk of calcium precipitation. Ceftriaxone is contraindicated in newborns up to age 28 days who need IV treatment with any calcium containing solution. Calcium and ceftriaxone may be infused sequentially in patients aged 28 days or older provided that either the infusion line is rinsed or flushed between solutions, or the infusions are given via different infusion lines at different sites.

Cefuroxime

• Tablets 250mg (£9.11 = 14 pack)
• Powder for solution for injection vial 250mg, 750mg, 1.5g

Cefixime

• Tablets 200mg (£13.23 = 7 pack)

Indications

• Gonorrhoea

Cefradine

• Capsules 250mg, 500mg

Ceftazidime

• Powder for solution for injection vial 500mg, 1g, 2g, 3g

5.1.2.2 Carbapenems

Ertapenem

• Powder for solution for infusion vial 1g

Meropenem

• Powder for solution for injection vial 500mg, 1g

5.1.2.3 Other beta-lactam antibiotics

Aztreonam

• Powder for solution for injection vial 1g, 2g
• Powder and solvent for nebuliser solution (solvent and nebuliser handset) 84 x 75mg vials

Notes

1. Aztreonam is included for resistant pseudomonal infection in cystic fibrosis patients.