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: Cefaclor is a semi-synthetic (partially man-made)
oral antibiotic in the cephalosporin family of antibiotics. The cephalosporin
family includes cephalexin (Keflex), cefuroxime (Zinacef), cefpodoxime (Vantin),
cefixime (Suprax), cefprozil (Cefzil) as well as many injectable antibiotics.
Like other cephalosporins, cefaclor stops 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.
Cefaclor is effective against many different bacterial organisms such as
Staphylococcus aureus,
Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Haemophilus influenzae, E.
coli, and many others.
PRESCRIPTION: Yes
GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Tablets (chewable): 125, 187, 250, and 375 mg. Capsules: 250
and 500 mg. Oral Suspension: 125, 187, 250, and 375 mg/5ml.
STORAGE: Capsules should be stored at room temperature, 59-86 F (15-30 C) in
a tightly closed container. The oral suspension should be stored in the
refrigerator in a tightly closed container.
DOSING: The usual adult dose of cefaclor is 250-500 mg every 8 hours or
375-500 mg every 12 hours.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Aluminum or magnesium containing antacids reduce the
absorption of cefaclor from the intestine. Separating the administration of
cefaclor and such antacids by one hour prevents this interaction.
PREGNANCY: There are no adequate studies of cefaclor in
pregnant women.
NURSING MOTHERS: Small amounts of cefaclor are secreted in
breast milk. The
effects of this small amount on the infant is unknown.
Cefaclor should be avoided by patients with known allergy to cephalosporin
type antibiotics. Since cefaclor is chemically related to penicillin, patients
allergic to penicillin can have an allergic reaction (sometimes even
anaphylaxis) if given cefaclor. Treatment with cefaclor and other antibiotics
can alter the normal bacteria flora of the colon and permit overgrowth of C.
difficile, a bacteria responsible for pseudomembranous colitis. Patients who
develop pseudomembranous colitis as a result of antibiotics treatment can
experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and sometimes even shock.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bronchitis is a disease of the respiratory system in which the bronchial passages become inflamed. There are two types of bronchitis, acute and chronic. Symptoms of acute bronchitis include frequent cough with mucus, lack of energy, wheezing, and possible fever. Treatment may require medication such as bronchial inhalers and predinsone. Supportive treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms with fever reducers, cough suppressants, and rest. Treatment may be more aggressive in patients with pre-existing conditions such as empyema, COPD, or cigarette smoking.
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.
There are many types of E. Coli (Escherichia coli ). Pathogenic E. coli can cause urinary tract and bladder infections, or lead to sepsis. E coli O157:H7 (EHEC) causes bloody diarrhea and colitis. Complications of E. coli infection include hemorrhagic diarrhea, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. E coli O157:H7 commonly is due to eating raw or undercooked hamburger or raw milk or dairy products.
Middle ear infection or inflammation (otitis media) is inflammation fo the middle ear. There are two types of otitis media, acute and chronic. Acute otitis media is generally short in duration, and chronic otitis media generally lasts several weeks. Seventy-five percent of children in the U.S. suffer from otitis media at some point. Treatment depends upon the type (chronic or acute).
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box (vocal cords). The most common cause of acute laryngitis is infection, which inflames the vocal cords. Symptoms may vary from degree of laryngitis and age of the patient. Common symptoms include croup, hoarse cough, fever, cold, runny nose, dry cough, and loss of voice. Chronic laryngitis generally lasts more than three weeks. Causes other than infection include smoking, excess coughing, GERD, and more. Treatment depends on the cause of laryngitis.
E. coli 0157:H7 is a gram-negative bacterium that can produce a bloody
diarrhea due to toxins it secretes when it infects human intestinal tracts.
The symptoms of E. coli 0157:H7 infection may include a low fever, nausea,
vomiting, stomach cramps, and bloody diarrhea.
E. coli 0157:H7 is notorious because it can cause additional complications
in children and the elderly; renal failure, anemia, and dehydration especially
for children (termed HUS or Hemolytic-uremic syndrome) and spontaneous bleeding,
organ failures, and mental changes in the elderly (termed TTP or thrombotic
thrombocytopenic purpura). Some of these patients develop disabilities or die.
Diagnosis is definitively made when E. coli 0157:H7 is isolated, usually
from the patient's stool, and identified as serotype 0157 by immunologic tests.