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Cefuroxime axetil, sold under the brand name Ceftin among others, is a second generation oral cephalosporin antibiotic.
It is an ester prodrug of cefuroxime which is effective orally. The activity depends on in vivo hydrolysis and release of cefuroxime tablets.
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It was patented in 1976 and approved for medical use in 1987.
Medical uses
Second generation cephalosporins are more effective in treating Gram-negative bacilli compared to first generation cephalosporins, which have a greater coverage for Gram-positive cocci. Also, it has been reported that cefuroxime is resistant to hydrolysis by β-lactamases produced by Gram-negative bacteria.
Some medical uses are:
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Lower respiratory tract infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Gonorrhoea
- Early Lyme disease
Bacterial susceptibility
Cefuroxime axetil treats infections against methicillin-, oxacillin- and penicillin-sensitive bacterial strains. Cefuroxime axetil does not work against enterococci. It was approved by FDA on 28 December 1987. It is available by GSK as Ceftin in the US and Ceftum in India.