Cefotaxime; Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interactions

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Medical guide Drugs (A - Z) Jul 6, 2026 76 reads
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Cefotaxime is a third generation semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic with bactericidal activity. Cefotaxime inhibits mucopeptide synthesis by binding to and inactivating penicillin-binding proteins thereby interfering with the final transpeptidation step required for cross-linking of peptidoglycan units which are a component of bacterial cell walls. This results in a reduction of cell wall...

For severe symptoms, danger signs, pregnancy, child illness, or sudden worsening, seek urgent medical care.

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Article Summary

Cefotaxime is a third generation semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic with bactericidal activity. Cefotaxime inhibits mucopeptide synthesis by binding to and inactivating penicillin-binding proteins thereby interfering with the final transpeptidation step required for cross-linking of peptidoglycan units which are a component of bacterial cell walls. This results in a reduction of cell wall stability and causes cell lysis. Cefotaxime is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. Like other third-generation cephalosporins, it has broad-spectrum activity against...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains Mechanism of action of Cefotaxime in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Indications of Cefotaxime in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Contra Indications of Cefotaxime in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Dosages of Cefotaxime in simple medical language.
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Definition

Cefotaxime is a third generation semisynthetic cephalosporin bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।" data-rx-term="antibiotic" data-rx-definition="An antibiotic is a medicine used to treat bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।">antibiotic with bactericidal activity. Cefotaxime inhibits mucopeptide synthesis by binding to and inactivating penicillin-binding proteins thereby interfering with the final transpeptidation step required for cross-linking of peptidoglycan units which are a component of bacterial cell walls. This results in a reduction of cell wall stability and causes cell lysis.

Cefotaxime is a third-generation cephalosporin bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।" data-rx-term="antibiotic" data-rx-definition="An antibiotic is a medicine used to treat bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।">antibiotic. Like other third-generation cephalosporins, it has broad-spectrum activity against Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In most cases, it is considered to be equivalent to ceftriaxone in terms of safety and efficacy.

Mechanism of action of Cefotaxime

Cefotaxime is a β-lactam bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।" data-rx-term="antibiotic" data-rx-definition="An antibiotic is a medicine used to treat bacterial infections. সহজ বাংলা: ব্যাকটেরিয়ার সংক্রমণের ওষুধ।">antibiotic (which refers to the structural components of the drug molecule itself). As a class, β-lactams inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to one or more of the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). This inhibits the final transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan synthesis in bacterial cell walls, thus inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis. Bacteria eventually lyse due to ongoing activity of cell wall autolytic enzymes (autolysins and murein hydrolases) in the absence of cell wall assembly. Due to the mechanism of their attack on bacterial cell wall synthesis, β-lactams are considered to be bactericidal.

Unlike β-lactams such as penicillin and amoxicillin, which are highly susceptible to degradation by β-lactamase enzymes (produced, for example, nearly universally by S. aureus), cefotaxime boasts the added benefit of resistance to β-lactamase degradation due to the structural configuration of the cefotaxime molecule. The syn-configuration of the methoxyimino moiety confers stability against β-lactamases. Consequently, the spectrum of activity is broadened to include several β-lactamase-producing organisms (which would otherwise be resistant to β-lactam antibiotics), as outlined below. Cefotaxime, like other β-lactam antibiotics, does not only block the division of bacteria, including cyanobacteria, but also the division of cyanelles, the photosynthetic organelles of the glaucophytes, and the division of chloroplasts of bryophytes. In contrast, it has no effect on the plastids of the highly developed vascular plants. This supports the endosymbiotic theory and indicates an evolution of plastid division in land plants.

Indications of Cefotaxime

  • Lower respiratory tract infections – e.g. pneumonia (most commonly caused by S. pneumonia)
  • Genitourinary system infections – urinary tract infections (e.g. E. coliS. epidermidisP. mirabilis) and cervical/urethral gonorrhea
  • Bacteremia/septicemia – secondary to Streptococcus spp., S. aureusE. coli, and Klebsiella spp.
  • Intra-abdominal infections – e.g. peritonitis
  • Bone and joint infections – S. aureusStreptococcus spp.
  • CNS infections – e.g. meningitis/ventriculitis secondary to N. meningitidisH. influenzaeS. pneumoniae
  • Acute maxillary sinusitis caused by M. catarrhalis
  • Bacteremia
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Bacterial Sepsis
  • Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections
  • Bone and Joint Infections
  • CNS ventriculitis
  • Central Nervous System Infections
  • Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
  • Endometritis
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Peritonitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Skin or Soft Tissue Infection
  • Surgical Prophylaxis
  • Urinary Tract Infection
  • Gonococcal Infection – Disseminated
  • Lyme Disease – Neurologic
  • Sinusitis
  • Rhinitis
  • Also used to treat gonorrhoea, meningitis, and severe infections including infections of the kidney (pyelonephritis) and urinary system. Also used before an operation to prevent infection after surgery.

Gyanocological infection

  • Gonococcal pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis
  • Gonorrhea
  • Infected animal bite
  • Intra-abdominal infections
  • Lower respiratory tract infection bacterial
  • Lyme neuroborreliosis
  • Meningitis bacterial
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Pelvic cellulitis
  • Peritonitis bacterial
  • Pneumonia, bacterial
  • Postoperative infections
  • Skin and subcutaneous tissue bacterial infections

Contra Indications of Cefotaxime

Allergies
  • Cephalosporins
  • Beta-lactams

Dosages of Cefotaxime

Strengths: 500 mg; 1 g; 2 g; 10 g; 1 g/50 mL; 2 g/50 mL; 20 g

Bacteremia

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

Septicemia

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

 Sepsis

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

Cesarean Section

  • 1 g IV as soon as the umbilical cord is clamped, then additional 1 g IM or IV doses at 6 and 12 hours after the initial dose

Meningitis

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

CNS Infection

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

Endometritis

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

Gonococcal Infection – Uncomplicated

  • Urethritis/cervicitis: 0.5 g IM once

Rectal gonorrhea

  • Females: 0.5 g IM once
  • Males: 1 g IM once
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Recommendations
  • Urogenital and anorectal infections: 500 mg IM once

Intraabdominal Infection

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/daySurgical Infection Society (SIS) and IDSA Recommendations: 1 to 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours PLUS metronidazole

Joint Infection

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

Osteomyelitis

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

 Peritonitis

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

Pneumonia

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

Skin or Soft Tissue Infection

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

Urinary Tract Infection

  • Uncomplicated infections: 1 g IM or IV every 12 hours
  • Moderate to severe infections: 1 to 2 g IM or IV every 8 hours
  • Infections needing higher-doses: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours
  • Life-threatening infections: 2 g IV every 4 hours
  • Maximum dose: 12 g/day

Pediatric Dose for Bacteremia

  • 0 to 1 week: 50 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
  • 1 to 4 weeks: 50 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

IDSA Recommendations

  • Neonates 0 to 4 weeks and less than 1200 g: 100 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 12 hours
  • Postnatal age 7 days or less and 1200 to 2000 g: 100 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 12 hours
  • Postnatal age 7 days or less and greater than 2000 g: 100 to 150 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 8 to 12 hours
  • Postnatal age over 7 days and 1200 to 2000 g: 150 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 8 hours
  • Postnatal age over 7 days and over 2000 g: 150 to 200 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 6 to 8 hours
  • Infants and children 12 years and younger: 100 to 150 mg/kg per day, given in divided doses every 8 hours

Septicemia

  • 0 to 1 week: 50 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
  • 1 to 4 weeks: 50 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

IDSA Recommendations

  • Neonates 0 to 4 weeks and less than 1200 g: 100 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 12 hours
  • Postnatal age 7 days or less and 1200 to 2000 g: 100 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 12 hours
  • Postnatal age 7 days or less and greater than 2000 g: 100 to 150 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 8 to 12 hours
  • Postnatal age over 7 days and 1200 to 2000 g: 150 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 8 hours
  • Postnatal age over 7 days and over 2000 g: 150 to 200 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 6 to 8 hours
  • Infants and children 12 years and younger: 100 to 150 mg/kg per day, given in divided doses every 8 hours

Sepsis

  • 0 to 1 week: 50 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
  • 1 to 4 weeks: 50 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

Meningitis

  • 0 to 1 week: 50 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
  • 1 to 4 weeks: 50 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

CNS Infection

  • 0 to 1 week: 50 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
  • 1 to 4 weeks: 50 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

Intraabdominal Infection

  • 0 to 1 week: 50 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
  • 1 to 4 weeks: 50 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

Side Effects of Cefotaxime

The most common

More common

Rare

Drug Interactions of Cefotaxime

Cefotaxime may interacts with following drugs, suppliments & change the efficacy of drugs

This is not a complete list of cefotaxime drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Pregnancy & Lactation of Cefotaxime

FDA Pregnancy category B

Pregnancy

The safety of cefotaxime has not been established in human pregnancy. Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

Lactation

Cefotaxime passes into human breast milk in small amounts and is usually compatible with breastfeeding, but careful monitoring of the infant is recommended. Effects on the physiological intestinal flora of the breastfed infant leading to diarrhea, colonization by yeast-like fungi, and sensitization of the infant cannot be excluded.

References

 

Cefotaxime; Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interactions

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Questions to ask
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Go to emergency care if you notice:
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Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.
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    If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.

  2. Step 2

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    Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.

  3. Step 3

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  4. Step 4

    Do only useful tests

    Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.

  5. Step 5

    Follow up and return early if worse

    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips
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