Cefuroxime for Skin and Soft Tissue Infection

• Cefuroxime is indicated for skin and soft tissue infection  caused by Staphylococcus aureus (penicillinase- and non–penicillinase-producing strains), Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Enterobacter spp.
• Based on our NAG 08, it can be used as an alternative for S.aureus infection in boils/carbuncles. Cefuroxime 500mg PO q12h for 7-10 days
• Based on the coverage, can also be used as alternatives for Impetigo/cellulitis/erysipelas [S.aureus and S.pyogenes]
• Based on IDSA 2014, Cefuroxime is also indicated for skin and tissue infection from human and animal bites.

Antibiotic Coverage :

Aerobes, Gram-positive: 

Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes (and other streptococci).

Aerobes, Gram-negative: 

Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae (including ampicillin-resistant strains), Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Klebsiella spp. (including Klebsiella pneumoniae), Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis (including ampicillin- and cephalothin-resistant strains), Morganella morganii (formerly Proteus morganii), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (including penicillinase- and non–penicillinase-producing strains), Neisseria meningitidis, Proteus mirabilis, Providencia rettgeri (formerly Proteus rettgeri), Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp.

Anaerobes:

 Gram-positive and gram-negative cocci (including Peptococcus andPeptostreptococcus spp.), gram-positive bacilli (including Clostridium spp.), and gram-negative bacilli (including Bacteroides and Fusobacterium spp.).

References:

1. www.drugs.com
2. IDSA Practice Guidelines for SSTIs (2014)
3. National Antibiotic Guideline (2008)