ATC code: J01DD02
In patients with community-acquired pneumonia, the response to ceftazidime was similar in men and women.
In our opinion, the described differences do not motivate differentiated dosing or treatment in men and women.
The pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime was assessed in healthy volunteers (12 men, 12 women) receiving 1 g ceftazidime as bolus i.v. injection. Volume of distribution was 17% lower in women. Eight men and eight women also received 1 g ceftazidime i.m. injection. Compared to men, women had 38% higher volume of distribution, 25% lower AUC, higher Cmax and longer Tmax [2]. Also a study in burn patients found that the volume of distribution was higher in women (20%) [3].In an Ethiopian study assessing appropriate dosage adjustments were made in hospitalized patients with renal impairment (40 men, 33 women), Multivariate analysis showed that there were no difference between men and women in the proportion of appropriately adjusted prescription entries per patient [4].
During pregnancy, renal clearance of ceftazidime has been shown to be higher, 39% during first trimester and 65 % during third trimester, than post-partum. The authors suggest that the dosage of ceftazidime should be increased in pregnancy by approximately 40% [5].
The clinical and bacteriological responses to ceftazidime (1 g every 8 h) versus meropenem (0.5 g every 8 h) were assessed in hospitalized patients (257 men, 152 women) with community-acquired pneumonia, according to risk factors. The responses were similar in men and women in both treatment groups [1].
No studies with a clinically relevant sex analysis regarding adverse effects of ceftazidime have been found.
Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult Janusmed Drugs and Birth Defects (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).
Updated: 2020-08-28
Date of litterature search: 2016-08-16
Reviewed by: Mia von Euler
Approved by: Karin Schenck-Gustafsson