Ceftazidime

Additional information

Pharmacokinetics and dosing

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].

Effects

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].

Adverse effects

No studies with a clinically relevant sex analysis regarding adverse effects of ceftazidime have been found.

Reproductive health issues

Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult Janusmed Drugs and Birth Defects (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).