Zinacef (cefuroxime)

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How does it work?

Zinacef injection contains the active ingredient cefuroxime, which is a type of medicine called an antibiotic. (NB. Cefuroxime is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.) Cefuroxime is a type of antibiotic called a cephalosporin. These antibiotics are related to penicillin. Cefuroxime is used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

Cefuroxime works by interfering with the ability of bacteria to form cell walls. The cell walls of bacteria are vital for their survival. They keep unwanted substances from entering their cells and stop the contents of their cells from leaking out. Cefuroxime impairs the bonds that hold the bacterial cell wall together. This allows holes to appear in the cell walls and kills the bacteria.

Cefuroxime is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that kills a wide variety of bacteria that cause a wide variety of commonly-occuring infections. Cefuroxime is given by mouth to treat infections of the upper and lower airways, ears, nose and throat, and skin and soft tissue. It may also be used to treat urinary tract infections, certain sexually-transmitted infections, and Lyme disease.

Cefuroxime injection is used to treat more serious infections, and when medicines cannot be taken by mouth. It is also used to prevent infections following various different types of surgery.

The injection is administered either into a muscle (intramuscularly) or a vein (intravenously).

To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to cefuroxime your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the throat or skin, or a urine or blood sample.

What is it used for?

- Bacterial infections of the lungs and airways (respiratory tract), eg acute bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abscess
- Bacterial infection of the ears, nose or throat, eg sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis
- Bacterial infections of the urinary tract, eg cystitis, kidney infections (pyelonephritis)
- Gonorrhoea
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Bacterial infections of the skin or soft tissue, eg cellulitis, erysipelas, peritonitis, wound infections
- Bacterial infections of bones or joints, eg osteomyelitis, septic arthritis
- Bacterial meningitis
- Blood poisoning (septicaemia)
- Preventing infections following abdominal, pelvic, bone (orthopaedic), heart (cardiac), lung (pulmonary), oesophageal and blood vessel (vascular) surgery.

Warning!

- Broad-spectrum antibiotics can sometimes cause inflammation of the bowel (colitis). For this reason, if you get diarrhoea that becomes severe or persistent or contains blood or mucus, either during or after treatment with this medicine, you should consult your doctor immediately.
- If you have any problems with your kidneys your doctor may want to monitor your kidney function while you are having treatment with cefuroxime by injection.

Use with caution in

- Allergy to penicillin-type antibiotics
- Decreased kidney function.

Not to be used in

- Allergy to cephalosporin-type antibiotics.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

- This medicine is not known to be harmful when used by pregnant women, but as with all medicines, it should be used with caution during pregnancy and only when considered essential by your doctor, particularly during the first trimester. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- This medicine passes into breast milk. It should be used with caution by breastfeeding mothers and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Pain or inflammation at the injection site
- Temporary rise in liver enzymes
- Disturbances of the gut, such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
- Allergic skin reactions
- Disturbances in the normal numbers of blood cells in the blood
- Overgrowth of the yeast Candida with prolonged use (this may cause thrush infections)
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis)
- An extreme allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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