500 mg/ 1g Powder for Injection (I.V/I.M)

Used in the treatment of infections due to susceptible organisms, especially serious and life-threatening infections. They include brain abscess, endocarditis, gonorrhoea,  (selective parenteral and enteral antisepsis regimens), Lyme disease, meningitis, peritonitis, pneumonia, septicaemia and typhoid fever. It is also used for surgical infection prophylaxis.

Cefotaxime may be used with an aminoglycoside as synergy may occur against some Gram-negative organisms, but the drugs should be administered separately. It has sometimes been used with another beta lactam to broaden the spectrum of activity. Cefotaxime has also been used with metronidazole in the treatment of mixed aerobic-anaerobic infections.

1. Adult and over 12 years aged children

Cefotaxime sodium should be administered by intravenous or intramuscular injection in accordance to infection state.

*Gonorrhea: The recommended dosage is 1g (potency) I.M. by single dose. The higher dosage should be used for lower susceptibility of infection

Patient should be tested for syphilis infection before the treatment.

2. Infants and below 12 years old children: the usual dosage is 50-100mg/kg (body weight) every 6-12 hours daily I.V.
3. Premature: Because premature has completely not matured renal clearance, the recommended dosage should not exceed 50 mg/kg daily.

Patients with renal dysfunction: The maintenance dosage is a half-usual dosage in case of below 5mL/ min of creatinine clearance. The initial dosage is determined by infection type, susceptibility.

Cefotaxime sodium should be prescribed with caution in patients with the following cases:

1. Cefotaxime sodium or cephem group of antibiotics should be administered with caution to any patient who has demonstrated some form of allergy if needed.
2. Patients who have had previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins
3. Patients whose family have constitutional disease such as bronchial asthma, fever, and pruritus.
4. Patients with severe impaired renal function (because high and prolonged serum antibiotic concentrations, cefotaxime sodium should be used with administration interval).
5. Geriatric patients, patients with systemic disease, patients whose ingestion is wrong (because avitaminosis K may occur, observe enough).
6. Individual with a history of gastrointestinal disease (particularly colitis)

General Precautions

1. In order to protect tolerance from being revealed, identify susceptibility and administer during minimal period.
2. Cefotaxime sodium should be carried out skin test before administration, in order to estimate the anaphylactic shock.

In case of anaphylactic shock, first aid treatment should be prepared (Lay the patient on the side, try artificial respiration and infuse sympatheticomimetic and high-dosage of adrenocortical hormone). After administration, patient should be observed with caution in stable state.