Clinical Medicine Insights: Therapeutics

Cefazolin sodium is a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic and has been used worldwide since the early 1970s. It is used for the treatment of bacterial infections in various organs, such as the respiratory tract, skin and skin structure, genital tract, urinary tract, biliary tract, and bone and joint infections. It has also been used for septicemia due to susceptible gram-positive cocci (except Enterococcus), some gram-negative bacilli including E. coli, Proteus, and Klebsiella may be susceptible, and for perioperative prophylaxis. After the introduction of penicillins and other cephalosporins, occasional outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were noted. As a result, vancomycin use was increased; however, very recently and most alarmingly, vancomycin-resistant strains have been described. In this setting, to avoid the risk of the development of vancomycin-resistant strains further, vancomycin use should be curtailed. In consideration of this historical background, the appropriate use of antibiotics, such as dosage, dosage intervals, and the duration of administration is required not only for the protection of patients’ health but also for the prevention of the development of drug resistance. Cefazolin has been used in clinical practice for about 40 years, and a large body of evidence has been accumulated, and its efficacy and safety are well established compared with other antibiotics. Therefore, cefazolin has been chosen as a first-line anti-microbial for prophylaxis after various surgical procedures, including cardiovascular surgery, hysterectomy, arthroplasty and so on. Based on these facts, especially for the prophylaxis of surgical site infections, the first-generation cephalosporin, cefazolin, is now being “re-visited”.