It is indicated for the treatment of single infections and for mixed infections caused by two or more susceptible organisms. The more common indications are as follows – Severe infections in general: Septicemia, bacteremia, peritonitis, meningitis, infections in immunosuppressed patients with hematological or solid malignancies and in patients with cystic fibrosis. Respiratory tract infections: Pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, infected pleurisy, empyema, lung abscess, infected bronchiectasis, bronchitis and in lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. Ear, nose and throat infections: Otitis media, malignant otitis externa, mastoiditis, sinusitis and other severe ear and throat infections. Urinary tract infections: Acute and chronic pyelonephritis, pyelitis, prostatitis, cystitis, bacterial urethritis, renal abscess, and infections associated with bladder and renal stones. Skin and soft tissue infections: Erysipelas, abscesses, cellulitis, infected burns and wounds, mastitis, skin ulcers. Gastrointestinal, biliary and abdominal infections: Cholangitis, cholecystitis, empyema of gall bladder, intra-abdominal abscesses, peritonitis, diverticulitis, enterocolitis, post-partum and pelvic inflammatory conditions. Bone and joint infections: Osteitis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, infected bursitis. Gynecologic infections: Endometritis, pelvic cellulitis and other infections of the female genital tract Gastrointestinal, billary and abdominal infections: Cholangitis, cholecystitis, emphysema of gall bladder, intra-abdominal abscesses, peritonitis, diverticulitis, ceterocolitis, post-partum pelvic inflammatory conditions. Ceftazidime, because of its broad antibacterial spectrum, may be used alone as first choice of drug. When appropriate, however, it may be used safely in combination with an Aminoglycoside or other beta-lactum antibiotic, for example in the presence of severe neutropenia, or with an antibiotic active against anaerobes when the presence of Bacteroides fragilis is suspected.

Dosage And Administration

Dosage : Adults: Average dose: 500 mg IV/IM, 8 – 12 hourly; Total daily dose: 1 – 6 g Infants (>2 months) & children: 30-100 mg/kg/day (Bid); maximum 150 mg/kg/day. Neonates up to 2 months of age: 25-60 mg/kg/day (Bid). In case of meningitis or immunocompromised patients, IV route is recommended for children. More specific doses are – Uncomplicated & complicated UTI – 250-500 mg every 8-12 hours. Bone and joint infections – 2 g every 12 hours. Pneumonia – 500 mg – 1 g every 8 hours. Intra abdominal infections – 2 g every 8 hours, Serious gynecologic infections – 2 g every 8 hours. Meningitis – 2 g every 8 hours. Surgical prophylaxis: 1 g at induction of anaesthesia in prostatic surgery, repeated if necessary when cather is removed. Administration: ZidicefÂ® may be given intravenously (IV) or by deep intramuscular (IM) injection into a large muscle mass, such as, the upper outer quadrant of the gluteus maximus or lateral part of the thigh. For IM administration, ZidicefÂ® should be reconstituted with WFI as directed in the table headed by \’Preparation of solution\’. Then it should be injected through following the \’Instructions for reconstitution\’ given below. For IV administration, ZidicefÂ® should be reconstituted with WFI as directed and should be injected slowly into the vein over a period of 3 to 5 minutes.

Side Effects

Adverse reactions are infrequent and may include the following : Local : Phlebitis or thrombophlebitis with IV administration; pain and/or inflammation after IM injection. Hypersensitivity: Maculopapular or urticarial rash, fever, pruritus, and very rarely angioedema and anaphylaxis (bronchospasm and/or hypotension). Gastrointestinal: Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and very rarely oral thrush or colitis. Other adverse events which may be related to Ceftazidime therapy or of uncertain etiology include : Central nervous system : Headache, dizziness, paraesthesia, and bad taste. There have been a few reports of convulsions occurring in patients with renal impairment in whom the dose of Ceftazidime has not been appropriately reduced.