Cefmetazole Explained

Cefmetazole is a cephamycin antibiotic, usually grouped with the second-generation cephalosporins.

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Adverse effects

The chemical structure of cefmetazole, like that of several other cephalosporins, contains an N-methylthiotetrazole (NMTT or 1-MTT) side chain. As the antibiotic is broken down in the body, it releases free NMTT, which can cause hypoprothrombinemia (likely due to inhibition of the enzyme vitamin K epoxide reductase) and a reaction with ethanol similar to that produced by disulfiram, due to inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase.^[1]

Spectrum of bacterial susceptibility

Cefmetazole is a broad-spectrum cephalosporin antimicrobial and has been effective in treating bacteria responsible for causing urinary tract and skin infections. The following represents MIC susceptibility data for a few medically significant microorganisms.

• Bacteroides fragilis: 0.06 - >256 μg/ml
• Clostridium difficile: 8 - >128 μg/ml
• Staphylococcus aureus: 0.5 - 256 μg/ml (includes MRSA)^[2]

Notes and References

1. Book: Stork CM . Nelson LH, Flomenbaum N, Goldfrank LR, Hoffman RL, Howland MD, Lewin NA . Goldfrank's toxicologic emergencies . Antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals . https://books.google.com/books?id=cvJuLqBxGUcC&pg=PA847 . McGraw-Hill . New York . 2006 . 847 . 0-07-143763-0 . 2009-07-03.
2. Web site: Cefmetazole, free acid Susceptibility and Concentration Range (μg/ml) Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Data . The Antimicrobial Index . TOKU-E . 6 January 2020 .