Ceftiofur Explained

Ceftiofur is an antibiotic of the cephalosporin type (third generation), licensed for use in veterinary medicine. It was first described in 1987.^[1] It is marketed by pharmaceutical company Zoetis as Excenel,^[2] Naxcel, and Excede and is also the active ingredient in that company's Spectramast LC (lactating cow formulation) and Spectramast DC (dry cow formulation) product.

It is resistant to the antibiotic resistance enzyme beta-lactamase, and has activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. E. coli strains resistant to ceftiofur have been reported.^[3]

The metabolite desfuroylceftiofur also has antibiotic activity.^[4] The two compounds are measured together to measure for antibiotic activity in milk (alongside other antibiotics).^[5]

Notes and References

1. Yancey RJ, Kinney ML, Roberts BJ, Goodenough KR, Hamel JC, Ford CW . Ceftiofur sodium, a broad-spectrum cephalosporin: evaluation in vitro and in vivo in mice . Am. J. Vet. Res. . 48 . 7 . 1050–3 . 1987 . 3631686 .
2. Web site: Pfizer Animal Health Dairy Information on Products and Solutions . 20 November 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071013221750/http://www.pfizerah.com/index_species.asp?species=DA&country=US&lang=EN . 13 October 2007 .
3. Donaldson SC, Straley BA, Hegde NV, Sawant AA, DebRoy C, Jayarao BM . Molecular epidemiology of ceftiofur-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from dairy calves . Appl. Environ. Microbiol. . 72 . 6 . 3940–8 . 2006 . 16751500 . 10.1128/AEM.02770-05 . 1489609. 2006ApEnM..72.3940D .
4. Salmon SA, Watts JL, Yancey RJ . In vitro activity of ceftiofur and its primary metabolite, desfuroylceftiofur, against organisms of veterinary importance . Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation . 8 . 3 . 332–336 . July 1996 . 8844576 . 10.1177/104063879600800309 . free .
5. Web site: BetaStar Plus / For beta-lactam antibiotics / Product information sheet . Neogen . 9 September 2014.