Ceftazidime-avibactam is a powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotic combination used to treat severe, multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. It is primarily administered intravenously in hospital settings for complicated intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infections (including kidney infections), and hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated pneumonia.
How It Works
- Ceftazidime: A third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that kills bacteria by disrupting their cell wall formation.
- Avibactam: A beta-lactamase inhibitor. Many resistant bacteria produce enzymes that destroy antibiotics before they can work; avibactam neutralizes these enzymes, allowing ceftazidime to fight the infection successfully.
Primary Uses
Doctors typically reserve this medication for difficult-to-treat Gram-negative bacteria (such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Klebsiella pneumoniae) that are resistant to standard treatments.
- Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections: Used in combination with metronidazole to treat severe stomach or bowel infections.
- Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (cUTI): Treats infections of the kidneys and bladder, including acute pyelonephritis.
- Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (HABP/VABP): Treats aggressive lung infections that develop during a hospital stay or while using breathing equipment.
Important Considerations
- Not for viruses: Like all antibiotics, it will not work for colds, the flu, or other viral illnesses.
- Administration: It is given exclusively as an intravenous (IV) infusion, usually by a healthcare professional.
- Common Side Effects: The most frequently reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and rash.
