Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: AVYCAZ versus CEPHALOTHIN.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: AVYCAZ versus CEPHALOTHIN.
AVYCAZ vs CEPHALOTHIN
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
AVYCAZ is a combination of ceftazidime, a cephalosporin beta-lactam antibiotic, and avibactam, a non-beta-lactam beta-lactamase inhibitor. Ceftazidime inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), leading to cell lysis. Avibactam protects ceftazidime from degradation by certain beta-lactamases, including Ambler class A, class C, and some class D enzymes.
Cephalothin is a first-generation cephalosporin that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), thereby blocking peptidoglycan cross-linking. It has activity against gram-positive cocci (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes) and some gram-negative bacilli (e.g., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae).
1 vial (ceftazidime 2g and avibactam 0.5g) IV over 2 hours every 8 hours.
1-2 g IV every 4-6 hours; maximum 12 g/day.
None Documented
None Documented
Ceftazidime: ~2.8 hours; avibactam: ~2.7 hours. Extended in renal impairment (e.g., CrCl <50 mL/min requires dose adjustment).
0.5-1 hour in patients with normal renal function; prolonged to 2-8 hours in moderate renal impairment (CrCl 30-50 mL/min); up to 20-30 hours in end-stage renal disease; due to rapid elimination, frequent dosing (q4-6h) is required for continuous bactericidal levels.
Ceftazidime: primarily renal (80-90% unchanged); avibactam: primarily renal (85-95% unchanged). Fecal excretion <1%.
Primarily renal (60-90% unchanged) via tubular secretion and glomerular filtration; minor biliary excretion (less than 5%); hepatic metabolism to desacetylcephalothin (active but less potent) accounts for about 20-30% of dose; fecal elimination negligible.
Category C
Category C
Cephalosporin Antibiotic
Cephalosporin Antibiotic