Cefaclor

Oral
Otitis media, Respiratory tract infections, Skin infections, Soft tissue infections, Urinary tract infections

May be taken with or without food.

Add the amount of water specified on the container in 2 portions to provide a susp containing 125, 187, 250 or 375 mg per 5 mL. Shake the bottle after each addition.

Hypersensitivity to cefaclor or to other cephalosporins.

Hypersensitivity to penicillins. History of GI disease. Renal impairment. Pregnancy and lactation.

GI effects (e.g. diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting), headache, rash. Rarely, serum sickness-like reactions consisting of erythema multiforme or maculopapular pruritic rash or urticaria accompanied by arthritis, arthralgia, irritability and fever.
Potentially Fatal: Severe hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis and anaphylaxis), pseudomembranous colitis.

PO: B

Monitor renal function. Observe for signs of anaphylaxis during 1st dose.

Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, diarrhoea. Management: Supportive treatment.

May enhance the nephrotoxic effect of aminoglycosides. May diminish the therapeutic effect of BCG, typhoid vaccine and Na picosulfate. Concomitant use w/ warfarin may increase prothrombin time. Probenecid inhibits renal excretion of cefaclor.

Food may delay the rate but does not affect the extent of absorption.

False-positive reaction in urinary glucose test using Benedict's or Fehling's soln or copper sulfate test tablets. Positive direct Coombs' test.

Description: Cefaclor inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to 1 or more of the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) which in turn inhibit the final transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan synthesis in bacterial cell walls, thus inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis and arresting cell wall assembly resulting in bacterial cell death.
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption: Well absorbed from the GI tract. Food may delay the rate but does not affect the extent of absorption. Time to peak plasma concentration: 0.5-1 hr.
Distribution: Widely distributed. Crosses the placenta and enters breast milk. Plasma protein binding: Approx 25%.
Excretion: Via urine (up to 85%, as unchanged drug). Plasma half-life: 0.5-1 hr.

Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. Cefaclor, CID=51039, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Cefaclor (accessed on Jan. 21, 2020)

Store between 20-25°C. Protect from moisture. Reconstituted powd for susp: Store between 2-8°C.

Cephalosporins

J01DC04 - cefaclor ; Belongs to the class of second-generation cephalosporins. Used in the systemic treatment of infections.

Anon. Cefaclor. Lexicomp Online. Hudson, Ohio. Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed 10/10/2014.

Buckingham R (ed). Cefaclor. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [online]. London. Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 10/10/2014.

Cefaclor Capsule (Carlsbad Technology, Inc). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 10/10/2014.

Cefaclor Suspension (Carlsbad Technology Inc). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 10/10/2014.

McEvoy GK, Snow EK, Miller J et al (eds). Cefaclor. AHFS Drug Information (AHFS DI) [online]. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 10/10/2014.