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cefprozil
Cefzil

Pregnancy Risk Category B

How supplied
Tablets:
250 mg, 500 mg
Oral suspension:
125 mg/5 ml, 250 mg/5 ml

Action
A second-generation cephalosporin that interferes with cell-wall synthesis during microorganism replication, leading to osmotic instability and cell lysis (bactericidal).

Indications & dosage
Pharyngitis or tonsillitis due to
Streptococcus pyogenes-
Adults and children ages 13 and older:
500 mg P.O. daily for at least 10 days.
Otitis media due to
S. pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis-
Infants and children ages 6 months to 12 years:
15 mg/kg P.O. q 12 hours for 10 days.
Secondary bacterial infections of acute bronchitis and acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis due to
S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis-
Adults and children ages 13 and older:
500 mg P.O. q 12 hours for 10 days.
Uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections due to
Staphylococcus aureus and S. pyogenes-
Adults and children ages 13 and older:
250 or 500 mg P.O. q 12 hours or 500 mg daily.
Acute sinusitis due to
S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae (beta-lactamase positive and negative strains), and M. catarrhalis (including beta-lactamase-producing strains)-
Adults and children ages 13 and older:
250 mg P.O. q 12 hours for 10 days; for moderate to severe infection, 500 mg P.O. q 12 hours for 10 days.
Children ages 6 months to 12 years:
7.5 mg/kg P.O. q 12 hours for 10 days; for moderate to severe infections, 15 mg/kg P.O. q 12 hours for 10 days.
Adjust-a-dose:
For patients with renal failure, if creatinine clearance is below 30 ml/minute, give 50% of usual dose.

Adverse reactions
CNS:
dizziness, hyperactivity, headache, nervousness, insomnia, confusion, somnolence.
GI:
diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.
GU:
elevated BUN level, elevated serum creatinine level, genital pruritus, vaginitis.
Hematologic:
decreased leukocyte count, eosinophilia.
Hepatic:
elevated liver enzymes, cholestatic jaundice (rare).
Skin:
rash, urticaria, diaper rash.
Other:
superinfection, hypersensitivity reactions, serum sickness, anaphylaxis.

Interactions
Drug-drug.
Aminoglycosides: potential increased risk of nephrotoxicity. Monitor closely.
Probenecid:
may inhibit excretion and increase blood levels of cefprozil. Use together cautiously.

Effects on diagnostic tests
Cephalosporins may produce a false-positive result for urine glucose tests that use copper reduction method (Benedict's reagent, Fehling's solution, or Clinitest tablets); use enzymatic glucose oxidase methods instead. A false-negative reaction may occur in the ferricyanide test for blood glucose.

Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to drug or other cephalosporins.

Nursing considerations

Patient teaching

*Liquid contains alcohol. **May contain tartrazine.  †Canada  ‡Australia  §U.K.  OTCOver the counter
Reactions may be common, uncommon, life-threatening, or COMMON AND LIFE-THREATENING

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