Cefazolin (Ancef)

Cefazolin belongs to the group of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics. It is used to treat many kinds of bacterial infections, including severe or life-threatening forms.

Therapeutic actions:
Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to one or more of the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) which in turn inhibits the final transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan synthesis in bacterial cell walls, thus inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis. Bacteria eventually lyse due to ongoing activity of cell wall autolytic enzymes (autolysins and murein hydrolases) while cell wall assembly is arrested.

What is it used for?:
• Treatment of respiratory tract, skin and skin structure, genital, urinary tract, biliary tract, bone and joint infections, and septicemia due to susceptible gram-positive cocci (except enterococcus); some gram-negative bacilli including E. coli, Proteus, and Klebsiella may be susceptible; perioperative prophylaxis;
• Alternative antibiotic for prevention of infective endocarditis when parenteral administration is needed.
• Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis

Contraindications and cautions:
• allergy to any drugs (especially penicillins);
• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• a stomach or intestinal disorder such as colitis.

Side effects:
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody; • skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; • fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; • easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

Interactions:
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to cefazolin, any type of penicillin, or to other cephalosporin antibiotics, such as:
• cefaclor (Ceclor);
• cefadroxil (Duricef);
• cefdinir (Omnicef);
• cefditoren (Spectracef);
• cefixime (Suprax);
• cefotaxime (Claforan;
• cefprozil (Cefzil);
• ceftazidime (Fortaz);
• cefuroxime (Ceftin);
• cephalexin (Keflex); and others.