Chloramphenicol

dr.joan

Chloramphenicol :
Trade name: Chloromycetin
Class: antibiotic
Pregnancy: (Category C)

Action: it inhibits protein synthesis in bacteria by binding to ribosome.
Uses:
§ Not to be used for trivial infections as prophylaxis of infection
§ Cold, throat infections or flu.
§ Treatment of choice for typhoid fever (not for carrier state).
§ Meningitis due to hemophilus influenza, pneumocoeoi or
§ Miningococei.
§ Skin infections (topically).
§ Brain abscesses.
Dose : by mouth or by intravenous injection or infusion, 50 mg/kg daily in 4 divided doses (exceptionally, can be doubled for severe infections such as septicemia and meningitis, providing high doses reduced as soon as clinically indicated); Child, haemophilus epiglottitis and pyogenic meningitis, 50–100 mg/kg daily in divided doses (high dosages decreased as soon as clinically indicated); Infants under 2 weeks 25 mg/kg daily (in 4 divided doses),
2 weeks–1 year 50 mg/kg daily (in 4 divided doses)
Contraindications:

• Hypersensitivity to chloramphenicol.
• Pregnancy
• Nursing mothers.
• Renal and hepatic failure.

Side effects:
· A plastic anemia, pancytopnea, nausea, vomiting abdominal distention, “progressive pallid cyanoses, ashen gray color, tachypnea , vasomotor collapse & death”, Gray syndrome in infants, super infections.
Nursing considerations:
· Administer I.V. as 10% solution over at least 1 min.
· Note any history of hypersensitivity & other contraindications, & if
Client takes antidiabetic or other medications that cause bone marrow depression.

• Neonates should be observed closely (greater hazards of toxicity).
• Arrange for further hematologic studies to be conducted every 2 days to detect early signs of bone marrow depression.
• The drug should be taken at regular intervals to be most effective.
• The drug should be taken 1 hr before or 2 hr after meals ( if GI upset

Occurs it could be taken with the food).