Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

Cephradine is a semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic. Cephradine is active against the following organisms in vitro: Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci; Staphylococci, including coagulase-positive, coagulase-negative, and penicillinase-producing strains; Streptococcus pneumoniae (formerly Diplococcus pneumoniae); Escherichia coli; Proteus mirabilis; Klebsiella species; Hemophilus influenza. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. It is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections (e.g., skin, ear, respiratory and urinary tract infections). Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported in patients receiving cephradine both orally and intravenously. Diarrhea generally starts 1 to 16 days after starting cephradine therapy. Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea, vomiting. Hypersensitivity reactions have included rash, urticaria, pruritus, and joint pain. Bacteriostats may interfere with the bactericidal action of cephalosporins in acute infection; other agents, e.g., aminoglycosides, colistin, polymyxins, vancomycin, may increase the possibility of nephrotoxicity.   ^NCATS