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

Quick overview

Claforan Injection (cefotaxime) is a beta-lactam antibiotic belonging to the third generation cephalosporin class. It is given by injection to treat many kinds of bacterial infections, including severe or life-threatening ones, and is also used to help prevent infection in people having certain types of surgery. It works by stopping bacteria from building their cell walls, which kills the bacteria, including some that are resistant to other antibiotics.

What is Claforan Injection

Claforan is an injectable antibiotic that belongs to the cephalosporin family. It is used to treat many kinds of bacterial infections, including severe or life-threatening ones, and is also given to help prevent infection in people having certain types of surgery.

Claforan Injection uses

• Lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia and lung abscess
• Urinary tract infections, including uncomplicated gonorrhea
• Bacteremia and septicemia (bloodstream infections)
• Skin and skin structure infections
• Intra-abdominal infections
• Gynecological infections, including pelvic inflammatory disease, endometritis and pelvic cellulitis
• Central nervous system infections such as meningitis and ventriculitis
• Bone and/or joint infections
• Preventing infection in people having certain surgeries, such as abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy, gastrointestinal and genitourinary surgery, and cesarean section

Benefits of Claforan Injection

• Treats infections caused by many types of susceptible bacteria, including some resistant to other antibiotics
• Can be used to help prevent infection after certain surgeries
• Reaches therapeutic levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, making it useful for treating meningitis

How Claforan Injection works

Claforan works by stopping bacteria from building their cell walls, which kills the bacteria. It remains effective even against some bacteria that produce enzymes (beta-lactamases) that can destroy other antibiotics.

Claforan Injection dosage

Claforan is given by injection into a muscle or as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give this injection when it is used to prevent infection from surgery. A healthcare provider may teach you how to give the injection to yourself for treating an infection. It must be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before use, and may need further dilution before injecting. Use a needle and syringe only once, then dispose of them in a puncture-proof sharps container.

Use this medicine for the full length of time prescribed, even if symptoms improve quickly, since skipping doses can increase the risk of resistant infection. It will not work against viral infections such as the flu or a common cold. For intravenous bolus doses, the medicine must be injected slowly, over three to five minutes, not faster. Tell any doctor treating you that you are using this medicine, as it can affect certain medical test results.

Available forms and strengths

• Powder for injection in vials (1 g and 2 g)
• Premixed frozen injection in plastic containers

Side effects of Claforan Injection

Common

• Pain, bruising, swelling, or irritation where the injection was given
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Rash, itching

Serious

• Severe stomach pain, watery or bloody diarrhea (even months after the last dose)
• Burning, irritation, or skin changes where the injection was given
• Dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Seizures
• Fever, chills, tiredness
• Easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet
• Signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face or throat
• Severe skin reactions such as fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, or a red or purple rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling

Warnings and precautions

• Before starting this medicine, your doctor must check whether you have ever had an allergic reaction to cefotaxime, cephalosporins, penicillins, or other drugs, since cross-allergy between penicillins and cephalosporins happens in some cases.
• Giving this medicine too quickly as a rapid injection into a central vein catheter has caused life-threatening irregular heartbeats in rare cases, so it must be given exactly as instructed.
• This medicine, like other antibiotics, can cause a serious intestinal condition called Clostridium difficile-associated disease, which can range from mild diarrhea to life-threatening colitis and can occur even up to two months after finishing treatment.
• This medicine should not be used in people who have previously had cephalosporin-related hemolytic anemia, because the reaction can come back much more severely.
• The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been fully established, and it should only be used in pregnancy if clearly needed.
• This medicine passes into breast milk in small amounts, so caution is needed, and in some cases breastfeeding or the treatment may need to be stopped.
• People with reduced kidney function may need a lower dose because the drug can build up to high levels in the body.
• Significant liver disease should be assessed clinically.
• In a study of healthy volunteers, no reaction occurred between this medicine and alcohol.
• If this medicine causes dizziness, it may affect your ability to concentrate and react, so you should avoid driving or using machinery in that case.

Storage

• Store the unmixed medicine at cool room temperature (not above 77 degrees F)
• CLAFORAN in the dry state should be stored below 30°C, protected from light and heat
• The dry material and solutions tend to darken depending on storage conditions and should be protected from elevated temperatures and excessive light
• Mixed medicine must be used within a certain number of hours or days, depending on the diluent used
• After mixing with a diluent, the mixture may need to be stored in a refrigerator and used within a certain number of days
• Any unused solutions should be discarded

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain or watery or bloody diarrhea, even if it happens months after your last dose.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice dark urine or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
• Call your doctor right away if you have a seizure.
• Call your doctor right away if you have easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, or cold hands and feet.

Alternatives

• Ceftriaxone
• Cefepime
• Ceftazidime