cefuroxime

Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat and prevent a wide range of bacterial infections. These include respiratory tract infections (such as bronchitis and pneumonia), otitis media, sinusitis, skin and soft tissue infections, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, early Lyme disease, sepsis, meningitis, and impetigo. It can be administered orally or by injection. Cefuroxime works by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) inside the bacterial cell wall and inhibiting the final stage of peptidoglycan synthesis in the cell wall. This action leads to bacterial cell lysis and death. It is active against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria—including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae—and is more resistant to beta-lactamase enzymes than first-generation cephalosporins[1][2][3][5][6]. Cefuroxime was patented in 1971 and approved for medical use in 1977[5].

Brand names

CeftinZinacefKefuroxZinacef ADD-VantageZinacef TwistVial

Other names

cefuroxime axetilcefuroxime sodium