Cefdinir
Encyclopedia
Cefdinir is a semi-synthetic, broad-spectrum antibiotic
in the third generation of the cephalosporin
class, proven effective for common bacteria
l infection
s of the ear, sinus, throat, and skin. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) in December 1997.
As of 2008, cefdinir was the highest-selling cephalosporin
antibiotic in the United States, with more than US$585 million in retail sales of its generic versions alone.
, soft tissue
infections, and respiratory tract
infections, including sinusitis, strep throat, community-acquired pneumonia
and acute exacerbations of bronchitis
.
antibiotic. It can be used to treat infections caused by several Gram-negative
and Gram-positive
bacteria.
Cefdinir is available as a generic drug
.
On the other hand, if the reddish stool is accompanied by abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea, etc., it could be a C. difficile (clostridium difficile
) infection caused by the antibiotic. This infection can occur as a result of taking an antibiotic. Talk to your pediatrician immediately to see if you should stop using the antibiotic.
Broad-spectrum antibiotic
The term broad-spectrum antibiotic refers to an antibiotic that acts against a wide range of disease-causing bacteria. A broad-spectrum antibiotic acts against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, in contrast to a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, which is effective against specific families of...
in the third generation of the cephalosporin
Cephalosporin
The cephalosporins are a class of β-lactam antibiotics originally derived from Acremonium, which was previously known as "Cephalosporium".Together with cephamycins they constitute a subgroup of β-lactam antibiotics called cephems.-Medical use:...
class, proven effective for common bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
l infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
s of the ear, sinus, throat, and skin. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
(FDA) in December 1997.
As of 2008, cefdinir was the highest-selling cephalosporin
Cephalosporin
The cephalosporins are a class of β-lactam antibiotics originally derived from Acremonium, which was previously known as "Cephalosporium".Together with cephamycins they constitute a subgroup of β-lactam antibiotics called cephems.-Medical use:...
antibiotic in the United States, with more than US$585 million in retail sales of its generic versions alone.
Indications
Therapeutic uses of cefdinir include otitis mediaOtitis media
Otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear, or a middle ear infection.It occurs in the area between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear, including a duct known as the eustachian tube. It is one of the two categories of ear inflammation that can underlie what is commonly called an earache,...
, soft tissue
Soft tissue
In anatomy, the term soft tissue refers to tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body, not being bone. Soft tissue includes tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, fibrous tissues, fat, and synovial membranes , and muscles, nerves and blood vessels .It is sometimes...
infections, and respiratory tract
Respiratory tract
In humans the respiratory tract is the part of the anatomy involved with the process of respiration.The respiratory tract is divided into 3 segments:*Upper respiratory tract: nose and nasal passages, paranasal sinuses, and throat or pharynx...
infections, including sinusitis, strep throat, community-acquired pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia is a term used to describe one of several diseases in which individuals who have not recently been hospitalized develop an infection of the lungs . CAP is a common illness and can affect people of all ages. CAP often causes problems like difficulty in breathing, fever,...
and acute exacerbations of bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
.
Susceptible organisms
Cefdinir is a bacteriocidalBacteriocide
A bactericide or bacteriocide, abbreviated Bcidal, is a substance that kills bacteria and, ideally, nothing else. Bactericides are disinfectants, antiseptics or antibiotics.-Bactericidal disinfectants:...
antibiotic. It can be used to treat infections caused by several Gram-negative
Gram-negative
Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol. In a Gram stain test, a counterstain is added after the crystal violet, coloring all Gram-negative bacteria with a red or pink color...
and Gram-positive
Gram-positive
Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining. This is in contrast to Gram-negative bacteria, which cannot retain the crystal violet stain, instead taking up the counterstain and appearing red or pink...
bacteria.
Side effects
According to the Omnicef website, side effects include "(...) diarrhea, vaginal infections or inflammation, nausea, headache, and abdominal pain."Available forms
Cefdinir is administered orally. It is available as capsules and a suspension. Dosage, schedule, and duration of therapy varies according to the type of infection.Cefdinir is available as a generic drug
Generic drug
A generic drug is a drug defined as "a drug product that is comparable to brand/reference listed drug product in dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality and performance characteristics, and intended use." It has also been defined as a term referring to any drug marketed under its...
.
"Blood" in the Stool
The pediatric version of Omnicef can bind to iron in the digestive tract. In rare cases, this creates a discoloration of the stool to a rust or red color. Some patients may interpret this as blood in the stool, although in reality blood appears dark brown or black in the stool. A doctor's office can perform a simple test on the stool to confirm that it does not have blood. If you simply wait one hour, the red color will remain red, (while real blood will turn black).On the other hand, if the reddish stool is accompanied by abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea, etc., it could be a C. difficile (clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile , also known as "CDF/cdf", or "C...
) infection caused by the antibiotic. This infection can occur as a result of taking an antibiotic. Talk to your pediatrician immediately to see if you should stop using the antibiotic.