Cefepime Injection while Breastfeeding

Modern medicine has evolved so much so that sooner or later every breastfeeding mother needs to take it in one form or other. Medication that is present in mothers blood will transfer into her breast milk to some extent. Most drugs do so at low levels and pose no real risk to infants but then there are some exceptions. In This post will discuss whether Cefepime Injection is safe in breast-feeding or not.

Cefepime Injection is a cephalosporin antibacterial indicated in the treatment of the following infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms: pneumonia (1.1); empiric therapy for febrile neutropenic patients (1.2); uncomplicated and complicated urinary tract infections (1.3); uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections (1.4); and complicated intra-abdominal infections (used in combination with metronidazole) (1.5). To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Cefepime Injection and other antibacterial drugs, Cefepime Injection should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria. (1.6) 1.1 Pneumonia Cefepime Injection is indicated for pneumonia (moderate to severe) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, including cases associated with concurrent bacteremia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Enterobacter species. 1.2 Empiric Therapy for Febrile Neutropenic Patients Cefepime Injection as monotherapy is indicated for empiric treatment of febrile neutropenic patients. In patients at high risk for severe infection (including patients with a history of recent bone marrow transplantation, with hypotension at presentation, with an underlying hematologic malignancy, or with severe or prolonged neutropenia), antimicrobial monotherapy may not be appropriate. Insufficient data exist to support the efficacy of cefepime monotherapy in such patients [see Clinical Studies (14)]. 1.3 Uncomplicated and Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (including pyelonephritis) Cefepime Injection is indicated for uncomplicated and complicated urinary tract infections (including pyelonephritis) caused by Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae, when the infection is severe, or caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Proteus mirabilis, when the infection is mild to moderate, including cases associated with concurrent bacteremia with these microorganisms. 1.4 Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections Cefepime Injection is indicated for uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible isolates only) or Streptococcus pyogenes. 1.5 Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections Cefepime Injection is indicated for complicated intra-abdominal infections (used in combination with metronidazole) caused by Escherichia coli, viridans group streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter species, or Bacteroides fragilis [see Clinical Studies (14)]. 1.6 Usage To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Cefepime Injection and other antibacterial drugs, Cefepime Injection 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.

Statement of Manufacturer/Labeler about breastfeeding usage
8.3 Nursing Mothers Cefepime is excreted in human breast milk in very low concentrations (0.5 mcg/mL). Caution should be exercised when Cefepime Injection is administered to a nursing woman.