Molecule

Drug Groups

approved

Description

Cefditoren is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic for oral use. It is commonly marketed under the trade name Spectracef by Cornerstone BioPharma.

Indication

For the treatment of mild to moderate infections in adults and adolescents (12 years of age or older) which are caused by susceptible strains of microorganisms in acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia, pharyngitis/tonsillitis, and uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections.

Pharmacology

Cefditoren pivoxil is a prodrug which is hydrolyzed by esterases during absorption, and the drug is distributed in the circulating blood as active cefditoren. Cefditoren is a cephalosporin with antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens. Cefditoren is effective against Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible strains, including b-lactamase-producing strains), penicillin-susceptible strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus influenzae (including b-lactamase-producing strains), Haemophilus parainfluenzae (including b-lactamase-producing strains), Moraxella catarrhalis (including b-lactamase-producing strains), Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus Groups C and G, and Streptococcus, viridans group (penicillin-susceptible and -intermediate strains).

Toxicity

Information on cefditoren pivoxil overdosage in humans is not available. However, with other b-lactam antibiotics, adverse effects following overdosage have included nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, diarrhea, and convulsions. In acute animal toxicity studies, cefditoren pivoxil when tested at the limit oral doses of 5100 mg/kg in rats and up to 2000 mg/kg in dogs did not exhibit any health effects of concern.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

Hydrolysis of cefditoren pivoxil to its active component, cefditoren, results in the formation of pivalate. Cefditoren is not appreciably metabolized.

Absorption

Following oral administration, cefditoren pivoxil is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and hydrolyzed to cefditoren by esterases. Under fasting conditions, the estimated absolute bioavailability of cefditoren pivoxil is approximately 14%. The absolute bioavailability of cefditoren pivoxil administered with a low fat meal (693 cal, 14 g fat, 122 g carb, 23 g protein) is 16.1 ± 3.0%.

Half Life

Mean terminal elimination half-life is 1.6 ± 0.4 hours in young healthy adults.

Protein Binding

Binding of cefditoren to plasma proteins averages 88% from in vitro determinations, and is concentration-independent at cefditoren concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 10 mg/mL.

Elimination

Pivalate is mainly eliminated (>99%) through renal excretion, nearly exclusively as pivaloylcarnitine.

Distribution

* 9.3 ± 1.6 L

Clearance

* renal cl=4-5 L/h [oral administration]

References

External Links