It is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with activity against numerous gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Given its broad spectrum of activity,<unk>  is used for a variety of infections, including: * Lower respiratory tract infections – e.g. pneumonia (most commonly caused by S. pneumoniae) * Genitourinary system infections – urinary tract infections (e.g. E. coli, S. epidermidis, P. mirabilis) and cervical/urethral gonorrhea * Gynecologic infections – e.g. pelvic inflammatory disease, endometritis, and pelvic cellulitis * Sepsis – secondary to Streptococcus spp., S. aureus, E. coli, and Klebsiella spp. * Intra-abdominal infections – e.g. peritonitis * Bone and joint infections – S. aureus, Streptococcus spp. * CNS infections – e.g. meningitis/ventriculitis secondary to N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae Although<unk>  has demonstrated efficacy in these infections, it is not necessarily considered to be the first-line agent. In meningitis,<unk>  crosses the blood–brain barrier better than cefuroxime. Vial of<unk>  Spectrum of activity As a β-lactam antibiotic in the third-generation class of cephalosporins,<unk>  is active against numerous Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including several with resistance to classic β-lactams such as penicillin. These bacteria often manifest as infections of the lower respiratory tract, skin, central nervous system, bone, and intra-abdominal cavity. While regional susceptibilities must always be considered,<unk>  typically is effective against these organisms (in addition to many others): * Staphylococcus aureus (not including MRSA) and S. epidermidis * Streptococcus pneumoniae and S. pyogenes * Escherichia coli * Haemophilus influenzae * Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis * Klebsiella spp. * Burkholderia cepacia * Proteus mirabilis and P. vulgaris * Enterobacter spp. * Bacteroides spp. * Fusobacterium spp. Notable organisms against which<unk>  is not active include Pseudomonas and Enterococcus. As listed, it has modest activity against the anaerobic Bacteroides fragilis. The following represents MIC susceptibility data for a few medically significant microorganisms: * H. influenzae: ≤0.007 – 0.5 µg/ml * S. aureus: 0.781 – 172 µg/ml * S. pneumoniae: ≤0.007 – 8 µg/ml Historically,<unk>  has been considered to be comparable to ceftriaxone (another third-generation cephalosporin) in safety and efficacy for the treatment of bacterial meningitis, lower respiratory tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, genitourinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections, as well as prophylaxis for abdominal surgery. The majority of these infections are caused by organisms traditionally sensitive to both cephalosporins. However, ceftriaxone has the advantage of once-daily dosing, whereas the shorter half-life of<unk>  necessitates two or three daily doses for efficacy. Changing patterns in microbial resistance suggest<unk>  may be suffering greater resistance than ceftriaxone, whereas the two were previously considered comparable. Considering regional microbial sensitivities is also important when choosing any antimicrobial agent for the treatment of infection.
Cefotaxime
Meropenem
Cefepime
Cefazolin
Aztreonam
Vancomycin
Ceftazidime
Imipenem