Cephalexin indications and usage
| Cephalexin |
|---|
| CEPHALEXIN®,KEFLEX® FDA Package Insert |
| Description |
| Clinical Pharmacology |
| Microbiology |
| Indications and Usage |
| Contraindications |
| Warnings and Precautions |
| Adverse Reactions |
| Overdosage |
| Dosage and Administration |
| How Supplied |
| Labels and Packages |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Abdurahman Khalil, M.D. [2]
Cephalexin is indicated for the treatment of the following infections when caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms:
Respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes (Penicillin is the usual drug of choice in the treatment and prevention of streptococcal infections, including the prophylaxis of rheumatic fever. Cephalexin is generally effective in the eradication of streptococci from the nasopharynx; however, substantial data establishing the efficacy of cephalexin in the subsequent prevention of rheumatic fever are not available at present.)
Otitis media due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Moraxella catarrhalis
Skin and skin structure infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and/or Streptococcus pyogenes
Bone infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and/or Proteus mirabilis
Genitourinary tract infections, including acute prostatitis, caused by Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae
Note—Culture and susceptibility tests should be initiated prior to and during therapy. Renal function studies should be performed when indicated.
To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of cephalexin capsules, cephalexin for oral suspension, cephalexin tablets, and other antibacterial drugs, cephalexin capsules, cephalexin for oral suspension, and cephalexin tablets should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.
References
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2006/050405s097lbl.pdf