Aztreonam Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Aztreonam Injection is an antibiotic given by injection to treat infections caused by certain Gram-negative bacteria. It does not treat colds, flu, or other viral illnesses. It is used for infections of the respiratory tract, urinary tract, bloodstream, skin, abdomen, and reproductive organs, and is sometimes combined with avibactam for hard-to-treat bacteria. It works by stopping bacteria from building their cell walls, causing them to break apart and die.

What is Aztreonam Injection

Aztreonam is an antibiotic given by injection that treats infections caused by certain bacteria called Gram-negative bacteria. It does not work against colds, flu, or other illnesses caused by viruses.

Aztreonam Injection uses

• Respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia and bronchitis
• Urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis and cystitis
• Bloodstream infections (septicemia)
• Skin and skin-structure infections, including those from wounds, ulcers, and burns
• Gynecological infections, including endometritis and pelvic cellulitis
• Abdominal (stomach area) infections, including peritonitis
• Used before, during, and sometimes briefly after surgery to help prevent infection, including after colorectal surgery
• Complicated infections of the abdomen, lungs (including hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia), and urinary tract when combined with avibactam
• Infections caused by certain hard-to-treat Gram-negative bacteria when combined with avibactam

Benefits of Aztreonam Injection

• Kills many types of Gram-negative bacteria that cause serious infections
• Can be combined with avibactam to work against bacteria that are resistant to many other antibiotics
• Reaches many body tissues and fluids, including lungs, kidneys, liver, and joints

How Aztreonam Injection works

Aztreonam works by stopping bacteria from building their cell walls, which causes the bacteria to break apart and die.

Aztreonam Injection dosage

Aztreonam is given as an injection into a vein (intravenously) or into a muscle (intramuscularly). When given into a vein, it is usually given slowly over a period of time rather than all at once. Your doctor will decide how often you receive doses and how long treatment lasts based on your infection and how you respond. You may receive this medicine in a hospital or be shown how to use it at home.

Continue treatment for the full time prescribed even if you feel better, to make sure the infection is fully treated. If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it is almost time for your next dose — do not double up.

Available forms and strengths

• Powder for injection (intravenous or intramuscular)
• Powder for concentrate for solution for infusion (combination product with avibactam)
• Frozen premixed intravenous solution

Side effects of Aztreonam Injection

Common

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Redness, irritation, pain, or swelling at the injection site
• Rash
• Fever
• Decrease in red blood cells (anemia)
• Changes in platelet counts
• Increases in certain liver enzymes (shown in blood tests)
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Inflammation of a vein, sometimes with a blood clot

Serious

• Severe allergic reaction with swelling of the face, lips, eyes, tongue, or throat, hives, and difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Severe, persistent, or bloody diarrhea, possibly with stomach pain or fever, which can be a sign of serious bowel inflammation
• Sudden severe rash, or blistering or peeling skin, possibly with high fever or joint pain (signs of serious skin reactions such as toxic epidermal necrolysis)
• Seizures, confusion, altered mental state, or movement problems, especially in people with kidney problems
• Signs of a new infection occurring during or after treatment

Warnings and precautions

• Tell your doctor before treatment if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this medicine or to other antibiotics such as penicillins, cephalosporins, or carbapenems, as severe allergic reactions can occur.
• This medicine can cause severe diarrhea from a serious bowel infection, which can happen during treatment or even up to two months or more afterward. Do not take anti-diarrhea medicines that slow bowel movement if this happens.
• Using antibiotics when not needed, or skipping doses, can make bacteria harder to treat in the future.
• Rare but serious skin reactions, including toxic epidermal necrolysis, have been reported, particularly in patients with bone marrow transplants and other risk factors.
• This medicine should not be used in children under 18 (for the combination product) because safety has not been established in that age group, though the aztreonam-only product has data supporting use from 9 months of age under medical supervision.
• This medicine should only be used during pregnancy if your doctor decides it is clearly needed, because it is not fully known how it affects an unborn child.
• Only small amounts of aztreonam pass into breast milk. Your doctor may suggest stopping breastfeeding or using formula while you are on this medicine.
• People with kidney problems may need a lower dose or longer time between doses, because the kidneys remove this medicine from the body, and reduced kidney function can raise drug levels and the risk of side effects including nervous system problems.
• People with liver problems should be monitored closely during treatment, as increases in liver enzymes have been seen with this medicine.
• This medicine can cause dizziness, which may affect your ability to drive or use machines. Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel dizzy.

Storage

• Store original packages at room temperature; avoid excessive heat.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use.

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you notice swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, hives, or trouble breathing or swallowing — these can be signs of a severe allergic reaction.
• Contact your doctor right away if you have severe, ongoing, or bloody diarrhea, especially if it comes with stomach pain or fever.
• Seek urgent care if you develop a sudden severe rash, or blistering or peeling skin, especially with high fever or joint pain.
• Tell your doctor right away if you experience confusion, altered mental function, movement problems, or seizures, which could mean you have received too much of this medicine.
• If someone may have taken too much of this medicine and has collapsed, had a seizure, is having trouble breathing, or cannot be woken up, get emergency help immediately.

Alternatives

• Cefepime
• Ceftazidime
• Meropenem