Cefixime

Abstract

Cefixime is an orally active third generation cephalosporin with in vitro antibacterial activity against most important lower respiratory pathogens. The drug is active against Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae but not Staphylococcus aureus. Cefixime has a long elimination half-life (3 hours compared with 0.5 hours for cefaclor and 1.5 hours for cefalexin), which allows once daily administration. Several trials have established the clinical efficacy of the drug in patients with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). In comparative studies cefixime had similar efficacy to amoxicillin +/- clavulanic acid, cefaclor, cefalexin, cefuroxime axetil and clarithromycin. Trials evaluating the efficacy of cefixime as the oral component of intravenous to oral switch therapy have produced promising preliminary results although further carefully designed trials are needed in this area. As with certain other drugs of its class, gastrointestinal disturbances are the most frequently reported adverse events in patients taking cefixime and cases of pseudomembranous colitis have been reported. Thus, cefixime is an effective treatment for mild to moderate LRTI and may have a role as the oral component of intravenous to oral switch therapy although further well designed studies are needed to confirm initial favourable results in this important emerging area of antibacterial therapy.

Comparison of In-vitro Activity of Cefixime to Doxycycline and Minocycline Against Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from Patients Suffering from Respiratory Tract Infections at a Tertiary Care Centre in Northern India

“…All isolates included in the study were grouped into inducible or non-inducible Enterobacteriaceae and non-fermenters, as observed in Table 2, and tested for susceptibility to each of the three antibiotics. Cefixime has been deemed less effective towards nonfermenters and members of inducible Enterobacteriaceae in a study by Markham et al [15] and is similarly observed in our study as only scarce susceptibility of the pathogens to Cefixime was observed in Table 3.…”

“…Cefixime is an oral third-generation cephalosporin, commonly used in the treatment of important lower respiratory tract infections [5]. In some non-comparative studies, the efficacy of Cefixime was found to be similar to Cefaclor, Cefalexin, Amoxicillinclavulanic acid, and Cefuroxime axetil in patients suffering from LRTIs [15]. Comparative studies have suggested Cefixime be equally efficacious as intravenous Ceftriaxone, oral Cefalexin, Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and Clarithromycin.…”

Determination of Human Tumor Necrosis Factor α by a Highly Sensitive Enzyme Immunoassay

“…The reported bioassays methods of hTNF-␣ measurements lack sensitivity and specificity, besides of being time consuming in comparison to immunoassay techniques. On the other hand, the sensitivities of the present reported hTNF-␣ enzyme immunoassay methods are in the range of 1 pg/ml (17)(18)(19)(20)(21). To enhance the sensitivity of the assay, we developed an enzyme immunosorbent assay with biotin…”