Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Cefadroxil is an oral antibiotic in the
cephalosporin family of drugs, a family that includes cephalexin (Keflex),
cefaclor (Ceclor), cefuroxime (Zinacef),
cefpodoxime (Vantin),
cefixime
(Suprax), and many other injectable antibiotics. Cephalosporins stop bacteria
from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming the walls that surround
them. The walls are necessary to protect bacteria from their environment and to
keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Bacteria cannot survive
without a cell wall. Cephalosporins are most effective when bacteria are
actively multiplying and forming cell walls. Cefadroxil is active against many
bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus,
Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Streptococcus pyogenes, Moraxella catarrhalis,
E. coli,
Klebsiella, and Proteus
mirabilis. The FDA approved cefadroxil in 1977.
PRESCRIPTION: Yes
GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 1 g. Capsules: 500 mg. Powder for suspension:
125, 250, 500 mg/teaspoon (5 ml).
STORAGE: Cefadroxil should be stored at room temperature, 15-30 C
(59-86 F). Once mixed, the suspension should be refrigerated and discarded after
14 days.
PRESCRIBED FOR: Cefadroxil is used for treating
infections of the
urinary tract, skin and soft- tissue,
pharynx (throat), and tonsils
(tonsillitis) caused by bacteria that are susceptible to its effects.
DOSING: The recommended adult dose is 1 or 2 grams daily as a single
dose or in two divided doses. The recommended dose for children is 30 mg/kg/day
as a single dose or two divided doses.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: There are no known clinically important drug
interactions associated with cefadroxil.
PREGNANCY: There are no adequate studies of cefadroxil in
pregnant
women.
NURSING MOTHERS: It is not known if cefadroxil is secreted in
breast
milk.
SIDE EFFECTS: Cefadroxil generally is well-tolerated. The most common
side effects are diarrhea or loose stools, nausea, abdominal pain,
vomiting, and
rash. Patients who have had allergic reactions to other cephalosporins should
not take cefadroxil. Additionally, persons allergic to penicillin or one of its
derivatives (for example, amoxicillin or ampicillin) may also be allergic to
cefadroxil, although cefadroxil has been used safely in such patients. Serious
but rare reactions include seizures, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis),
and reduced platelet or red blood cell counts. Cefadroxil can alter the normal
bacteria in the colon and encourage overgrowth of some bacteria, specifically,
Clostridium difficile which causes inflammation of the colon (pseudomembranous colitis). Patients who develop signs of pseudomembranous colitis after starting
cefadroxil (diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and possibly shock) should contact
their physician immediately.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder, and/or urethra. Not
everyone with a UTI has symptoms. Common symptoms include a frequent urge to
urinate and a painful, burning when urinating.
Pneumonia is inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses or mechanical causes (such as mouth breathing) and can be treated successfully at home. However, a person should be seen by a health care professional if they have a sore throat that has a rapid onset, and is associated with a fever or tenderness of the front of the neck; a sore throat that causes the person to have difficulty swallowing (not just pain swallowing) or breathing; or if a sore throat lasts for more than a week.
Staphylococcus or Staph is a group of bacteria that can cause a multitude of diseases. Staph infections can cause illness directly by infection or indirectly by the toxins they produce. Symptoms and signs of a Staph infection include redness, swelling, pain, and drainage of pus. Minor skin infections are treated with an antibiotic ointment, while more serious infections are treated with intravenous antibiotics.
Strep throat is a sore throat caused by a bacterium called streptococcus (strep) that can be treated through antibiotics. Common symptoms of strep throat include pinkeye, runny nose, skin rash, cough, hoarseness, diarrhea and more. Complications of untreated strep throat include middle ear infections, meningitis, pneumonia, rheumatic fever, and more.
Acne is a localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of oil glands at the
base of hair follicles. This inflammation, depending on its location, can take the form
of a superficial pustule (contains pus), a pimple, a deeper cyst, congested pores, whiteheads, or blackheads. Treatments vary depending on the severity of the acne.
It is thought that the tonsils and adenoids assist the body in fighting incoming bacteria and viruses by helping the body form antibodies. This is thought to be important only during the first year of life. Acute tonsillitis, strep throat, mononucleosis (mono), chronic tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, and hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids are all common problems involving the tonsils and adenoids. Treatment of tonsillitis and adenoids include antibiotics and other medications depending on the cause. In some cases, a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy (the removal of the tonsils or adenoids) may be necessary.
Group A streptococcal infections are caused by group A streptococcus, a bacteria that causes a variety of health problems, including strep throat, impetigo, cellulitis, erysipelas, and scarlet fever. There are more than 10 million group A strep infections each year.
Staphylococcus is a group of bacteria that can cause a number of diseases as a result of infection of various tissues of the body.
Staphylococcus is more familiarly known as Staph (pronounced "staff"). Staph-related illness can range from mild and requiring no treatment to severe and potentially fatal.
The name Staphylococcus comes from the Greek staphyle, meaning a bunch of grapes, and
kokkos, meaning berry, and that is what Staph bacteria look like under the microscope, like a bunch of grapes or little round berries. (In technical terms, these are gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, usually unencapsulated cocci.)
Over 30 different types of Staphylococci can infect humans, but most infections are caused by
Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococci can be found normally in the nose and on the skin (and less commonly in other locations) of 25%-30% of healthy adults. In the majo...
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