4.1. Therapeutic indications

Cefuroxime is indicated for the treatment of the infections listed below in adults and children, including neonates (from birth) (see sections 4.4 and 5.1).

• Community acquired pneumonia

• Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

• Complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis

• Soft-tissue infections: cellulitis, erysipelas and wound infections.

• Intra-abdominal infections (see section 4.4)

• Prophylaxis against infection in gastrointestinal (including oesophageal), orthopaedic, cardiovascular, and gynaecological surgery (including caesarean section).

In the treatment and prevention of infections in which it is very likely that anaerobic organisms will be encountered, cefuroxime should be administered with additional appropriate antibacterial agents.

Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

Table 1. Adults and children ≥ 40 kg

Indication

Dosage

Community acquired pneumonia and acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

750 mg every 8 hours

(intravenously or intramuscularly)

Soft-tissue infections: cellulitis, erysipelas and wound infections.

Intra-abdominal infections

Complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis

1.5 g every 8 hours

(intravenously or intramuscularly)

Severe infections

750 mg every 6 hours (intravenously)

1.5 g every 8 hours (intravenously)

Surgical prophylaxis for gastrointestinal, gynaecological surgery (including caesarean section) and orthopaedic operations

1.5 g with the induction of anaesthesia. This may be supplemented with two 750 mg doses (intramuscularly) after 8 hours and 16 hours

Surgical prophylaxis for cardiovascular and oesophageal operations

1.5 g with induction of anaesthesia followed by 750 mg (intramuscularly) every 8 hours for a further 24 hours

Table 2. Children < 40 kg

Indication

Infants and toddlers

> 3 weeks and children < 40 kg

Infants

(birth to 3 weeks)

Community acquired pneumonia

30 to 100 mg/kg/day (intravenously) given as 3 or 4 divided doses; a dose of 60 mg/kg/day is appropriate for most infections

30 to 100 mg/kg/day (intravenously) given as 2 or 3 divided doses (see section 5.2)

Complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis

Soft-tissue infections: cellulitis, erysipelas and wound infections

Intra-abdominal infections

Renal impairment

Cefuroxime is primarily excreted by the kidneys. Therefore, as with all such antibiotics, in patients with markedly impaired renal function it is recommended that the dosage of cefuroxime should be reduced to compensate for its slower excretion.

Table 3. Recommended doses in renal impairment

Creatinine clearance

T1/2 (hrs)

Dose (mg)

> 20 mL/min/1.73 m2

1.7-2.6

It is not necessary to reduce the standard dose (750 mg to 1.5 g three times daily)

10-20 mL/min/1.73 m2

4.3-6.5

750 mg twice daily

< 10 mL/min/1.73 m2

14.8-22.3

750 mg once daily

Patients on haemodialysis

3.75

A further 750 mg dose should be given intravenously or intramuscularly at the end of each dialysis; in addition to parenteral use, cefuroxime sodium can be incorporated into the peritoneal dialysis fluid (usually 250 mg for every 2 litres of dialysis fluid).

Patients in renal failure on continuous arteriovenous haemodialysis (CAVH) or high-flux haemofiltration (HF) in intensive therapy units

7.9-12.6 (CAVH)

1.6 (HF)

750 mg twice daily; for low-flux haemofiltration follow the dosage recommended under impaired renal function.

Hepatic impairment

Cefuroxime is primarily eliminated by the kidney. In patients with hepatic dysfunction this is not expected to affect the pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime.

Method of administration

Cefuroxime should be administered by intravenous injection over a period of 3 to 5 minutes directly into a vein or via a drip tube or by deep intramuscular injection.

Intramuscular injections should be injected well within the bulk of a relatively large muscle and not more than 750 mg should be injected at one site. For doses greater than 1.5 g intravenous administration should be used.

For instructions on reconstitution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.

4.3. Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to cefuroxime or to any of the cephalosporins.

Previous immediate and/or severe hypersensitivity (e.g. anaphylactic reaction) to any other type of beta-lactam antibacterial agent (penicillins, monobactams and carbapenems).

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Hypersensitivity reactions

As with all beta-lactam antibacterial agents, serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity reactions have been reported. There have been reports of hypersensitivity reactions which progressed to Kounis syndrome (acute allergic cornary asteriospasm that can result in myocardial infarction, see section 4.8). In case of severe hypersensitivity reactions, treatment with cefuroxime must be discontinued immediately and adequate emergency measures must be initiated.

Before beginning treatment, it should be established whether the patient has a history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to cefuroxime, to other cephalosporins or to any other type of beta-lactam agent. Caution should be used if cefuroxime is given to patients with a history of non-severe hypersensitivity to other beta-lactam agents.

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARS)

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions including: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), which can be life-threatening or fatal, have been reported in association with cefuroxime treatment (see section 4.8).

At the time of prescription patients should be advised of the signs and symptoms and monitored closely for skin reactions. If signs and symptoms suggestive of these reactions appear, cefuroxime should be withdrawn immediately and an alternative treatment considered. If the patient has developed a serious reaction such as SJS, TEN or DRESS with the use of cefuroxime, treatment with cefuroxime must not be restarted in this patient at any time.

Concurrent treatment with potent diuretics or aminoglycosides

Cephalosporin antibiotics at high dosage should be given with caution to patients receiving concurrent treatment with potent diuretics such as furosemide or aminoglycosides. Renal impairment has been reported during use of these combinations. Renal function should be monitored in the elderly and those with known pre-existing renal impairment (see section 4.2).

Overgrowth of non-susceptible microorganisms

Use of cefuroxime may result in the overgrowth of Candida. Prolonged use may also result in the overgrowth of other non-susceptible microorganisms (e.g. enterococci and Clostridium difficile), which may require interruption of treatment (see section 4.8).

Antibacterial agent–associated pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with use of cefuroxime and may range in severity from mild to life threatening. This diagnosis should be considered in patients with diarrhoea during or subsequent to the administration of cefuroxime (see section 4.8). Discontinuation of therapy with cefuroxime and the administration of specific treatment for Clostridium difficile should be considered. Medicinal products that inhibit peristalsis should not be given.

Intracameral use and eye disorders

Cefuroxime 1.5 g Powder for Solution for Injection or Infusion is not formulated for intracameral use. Individual cases and clusters of serious ocular adverse reactions have been reported following unapproved intracameral use of cefuroxime sodium compounded from vials approved for intravenous/intramuscular administration. These reactions included macular oedema, retinal oedema, retinal detachment, retinal toxicity, visual impairment, visual acuity reduced, vision blurred, corneal opacity and corneal oedema.

Intra-abdominal infections

Due to its spectrum of activity, cefuroxime is not suitable for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative non-fermenting bacteria (see section 5.1).

Interference with diagnostic tests

The development of a positive Coombs Test associated with the use of cefuroxime may interfere with cross matching of blood (see section 4.8).

Slight interference with copper reduction methods (Benedict's, Fehling's, Clinitest) may be observed. However, this should not lead to false-positive results, as may be experienced with some other cephalosporins.

As a false negative result may occur in the ferricyanide test, it is recommended that either the glucose oxidase or hexokinase methods are used to determine blood/plasma glucose levels in patients receiving cefuroxime sodium.

Important information about excipients

Cefuroxime 1.5 g Powder for Solution for Injection or Infusion contains 81 mg sodium per vial, equivalent to 4% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Cefuroxime may affect the gut flora, leading to lower oestrogen reabsorption and reduced efficacy of combined oral contraceptives.

Cefuroxime is excreted by glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. Concomitant use of probenecid is not recommended. Concurrent administration of probenecid prolongs the excretion of the antibiotic and produces an elevated peak serum level.

Potential nephrotoxic drugs and loop diuretics

High-dosage treatments with cephalosporins should be carried out with caution on patients who are taking strong-acting diuretics (such as furosemide) or potential nephrotoxic preparations (such as aminoglycoside antibiotics), since impairment of renal function through such combinations cannot be ruled out.

Other Interactions

Determination of blood/plasma glucose levels: refer to section 4.4.

Concomitant use with oral anticoagulants may give rise to increased international normalised ratio (INR).

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There are limited amounts of data from the use of cefuroxime in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown no reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3).

Cefuroxime should be prescribed to pregnant women only if the benefit outweighs the risk.

Cefuroxime has been shown to cross the placenta and attain therapeutic levels in amniotic fluid and cord blood after intramuscular or intravenous dose to the mother.

Breast-feeding

Cefuroxime is excreted in human milk in small quantities. Adverse reactions at therapeutic doses are not expected, although a risk of diarrhoea and fungus infection of the mucous membranes cannot be excluded. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from cefuroxime therapy taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.

Fertility

There are no data on the effects of cefuroxime sodium on fertility in humans. Reproductive studies in animals have shown no effects on fertility.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No studies on the effects of cefuroxime on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However, based on known adverse reactions, cefuroxime is unlikely to have an effect on the ability to drive and use machines.

4.8. Undesirable effects

The most common adverse reactions are neutropenia, eosinophilia, transient rise in liver enzymes or bilirubin, particularly in patients with pre-existing liver disease, but there is no evidence of harm to the liver and injection site reactions.

The frequency categories assigned to the adverse reactions below are estimates, as for most reactions suitable data for calculating incidence are not available. In addition the incidence of adverse reactions associated with cefuroxime sodium may vary according to the indication.

Data from clinical trials were used to determine the frequency of very common to rare adverse reactions. The frequencies assigned to all other adverse reactions (i.e. those occurring at <1/10,000) were mainly determined using post-marketing data, and refer to a reporting rate rather than a true frequency.

Treatment related adverse reactions, all grades, are listed below by MedDRA body system organ class, frequency and grade of severity.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

The following convention has been used for the classification of frequency:

Very common

Common

Uncommon

Rare

Very rare

Not known

≥1/10

≥1/100 and <1/10

≥1/1000 and <1/100

≥1/10,000 and <1/1000

<1/10,000

(cannot be estimated from the available data).

System organ class

Common

Uncommon

Not known

Infections and infestations

Candida overgrowth, overgrowth of Clostridium difficile

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

neutropenia, eosinophilia, decreased haemoglobin concentration

leukopenia, positive Coombs test

thrombocytopenia, haemolytic anaemia

Immune system disorders

drug fever, interstitial nephritis, anaphylaxis, cutaneous vasculitis

Gastrointestinal disorders

gastrointestinal disturbance

pseudomembranous colitis (see section 4.4)

Hepatobiliary disorders

transient rise in liver enzymes

transient rise in bilirubin

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

skin rash, urticaria and pruritus

erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, angioneurotic oedema, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)

Renal and urinary disorders

elevations in serum creatinine, elevations in blood urea nitrogen and decreased creatinine clearance (see section 4.4)

General disorders and administration site conditions

injection site reactions which may include pain and thrombophlebitis

Cardiac disorders

Kounis syndrome

Description of selected adverse reactions

Cephalosporins as a class tend to be absorbed onto the surface of red cell membranes and react with antibodies directed against the drug to produce a positive Coombs test (which can interfere with cross matching of blood) and very rarely haemolytic anaemia.

Transient rises in serum liver enzymes or bilirubin have been observed which are usually reversible.

Pain at the intramuscular injection site is more likely at higher doses. However it is unlikely to be a cause for discontinuation of treatment.

Paediatric population

The safety profile for cefuroxime sodium in children is consistent with the profile in adults.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

Overdosage can lead to neurological sequelae including encephalopathy, convulsions and coma. Symptoms of overdose can occur if the dose is not reduced appropriately in patients with renal impairment (see sections 4.2 and 4.4).

Serum levels of cefuroxime can be reduced by haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.