PANACEF ® Cefacloro

General antimicrobials for systemic use - Cephalosporins

THERAPEUTIC GROUP: General antimicrobials for systemic use - Cephalosporins

IndicationsAction mechanismStudies and clinical effectiveness Usage and dosage instructionsWarnings Pregnancy and lactationInteractionsContraindicationsUndesirable effects

Indications PANACEF ® Cefacloro

PANACEF® is used in the treatment of genitourinary and respiratory tract infections, soft tissue, skin and middle ear infections sustained by cephalosporin-sensitive bacteria.

Mechanism of action PANACEF ® Cefacloro

PANACEF ® is an antibiotic used in clinical settings against both Gram positive and negative bacterial pathogens responsible for numerous infections affecting various organs and systems.

Cefacloro, an antibiotic belonging to the category of second generation cephalosporins that can be administered orally, is particularly effective even against all those penicillin-resistant microorganisms responsible for particularly frequent infections such as streptococcal pharyngitis.

Taken orally the aforementioned active principle reaches the intestinal environment unchanged, where it is absorbed very quickly, reaching the plasma peak in about 60 minutes from the intake and persisting in circulation for about 8 hours.

Accumulated in various biological fluids and in different tissues, cefacloro monohydrate performs its bactericidal action by inhibiting the transpeptidation reaction, which, by preventing the formation of cross-linking between the various peptidoglycan molecules, seriously compromises the structure of the bacterial wall, causing death of the microorganism by osmotic lysis.

After its antibiotic activity, cefacloro is eliminated as it is through the urine.

Studies carried out and clinical efficacy

1. CEFACLOR IN THE TREATMENT OF GONOCOCCO URETRITES

Genitourin Med. 1997 Dec; 73 (6): 506-9.

Study demonstrating that the intake of cefacloro with probenecid can be effective and safe in the treatment of genococcal urethritis, thus constituting a valid alternative to treatment with third-generation cephalosporins.

2 . THE CEFACLOR IN THE TREATMENT OF SKIN INFECTIONS AND SOFT TISSUES

J Antimicrob Chemother. 1996 Jun; 37 Suppl C: 125-31.

A study conducted on 200 pediatric patients that demonstrated that cefacloro still preserves a high efficacy and safety in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections.

3. THE CEFACLOR IN THE TREATMENT OF THE COMPLETED CHRONIC BRONCHITE

J Pak Med Assoc. 2003 Aug; 53 (8): 338-45.

Work that demonstrates how cefacloro, taken for a few days, is effective and safe in the treatment of complications associated with the exacerbation of chronic bronchitis in adult patients, ensuring an improvement in symptoms in over 88% of treated patients.

Method of use and dosage

PANACEF ®

Granules for oral suspension of 250 mg of cefacloro monohydrate for 5 ml of solution;

Hard capsules of 500 mg of cefacloro monohydrate;

750 mg gastro-resistant tablets of cefacloro monohydrate.

The dosage and the related intake schedule should be defined by the physician based on the patient's state of health and the relative clinical picture present.

The therapeutic range normally between 750 mg and 2000 mg of cefacloro monohydrate daily, could undergo excess variations for the treatment of particularly resistant infections, in defect for the treatment in elderly patients or in pediatric age.

In any case it would be advisable to divide the total dose into more than one dose to be administered every 8 hours.

Warnings PANACEF ® Cefacloro

Treatment with PANACEF ® should be preceded by the characterization of the pathogenic agent responsible for the disease and by ascertaining its relative sensitivity to cephalosporins.

The inadequate use of this drug could indeed favor the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains, insensitive to PANACEF ® therapy.

Consequently, in order to preserve the efficacy of the therapy and to avoid at the same time the onset of clinically relevant side effects, medical supervision during the entire therapeutic process would be appropriate.

Even more important measures should also be reserved for elderly patients, with reduced renal function or with a history of hypersensitivity to antibiotics, given the greater susceptibility to the side effects of the therapy.

If unwanted signs and symptoms appear, including persistent colitis, the patient should contact his doctor with whom to consider the possibility of stopping the therapy.

PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING

Given the absence of studies able to evaluate the safety profile of cefacloro on the fetus it would be preferable to avoid the consumption of PANACEF ® during pregnancy, limiting its use to cases of real need and always under strict medical supervision.

This precaution should also be extended to the subsequent breastfeeding period, given the ability of cefacloro to accumulate in breast milk.

Interactions

In order to preserve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of cefacloro, it is important that the patient receiving PANACEF ® pay particular attention to the simultaneous intake of:

Probenecid, responsible for the pharmacokinetic variations of the active principle and consequently also for the relative safety profile;
Potentially nephrotoxic drugs, able to increase the risk of nephrotoxicity;
Food, able to reduce the systemic absorption of the active ingredient.

Furthermore, antibiotic therapy, compromising the health of the intestinal flora, could reduce the absorption of oral contraceptives, lowering the contraceptive threshold provided by estrogen-progestins.

Contraindications PANACEF ® Cefacloro

The use of PANACEF ® is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to penicillins and cephalosporins or their excipients.

Undesirable effects - Side effects

Although the intake of PANACEF ® is only rarely associated with the appearance of clinically relevant side effects, it is useful to remember how the therapy based on cephalosporins can determine, especially in predisposed patients, the appearance of adverse reactions against:

Gastrointestinal system with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain;
Liver with hypertransaminasemia and hyperbilirubinemia;
Kidney with hypercreatinemia and nephrotoxic damage;
Central nervous system with headache and vertigo;
Hematopoietic apparatus with anemia, agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia.

The allergic reactions to cephalosporins characterized by edema, angioedema, bronchospasm, laryngospasm, hypotension and, in more serious cases, anaphylactic shock are also particularly important from a clinical point of view.