This page is intended as reference information for the general public.
What is Zavicefta and what is it used for?
Zavicefta is an antibiotic medicine, launched in the UK in 2017.
It is recognised that certain types of bacteria which make us ill, are becoming resistant to antibiotics making them difficult to treat. Therefore, a range of different antibiotics are available to try and combat this resistance, Zavicefta is one of these.
Zavicefta is a combination of:
An existing antibiotic (Ceftazidime)
Avibactam, which gives the antibiotic Ceftazidime a better chance of killing the bacteria, which may otherwise be resistant to it
Zavicefta is indicated in adults and paediatric patients aged 3 months and older for the treatment of the following infections:
Complicated intra-abdominal infection
Complicated urinary tract infection, including pyelonephritis
Hospital-acquired pneumonia, including ventilator associated pneumonia
Treatment of adult patients with bacteraemia that occurs in association with, or is suspected to be associated with, any of the infections listed above.
Zavicefta is also indicated for the treatment of infections due to aerobic Gram-negative organisms in adults and paediatric patients aged 3 months and older with limited treatment options.
Medical professionals carefully consider a range of factors before recommending which antibiotic to prescribe.
Zavicefta 2g/0.5g is given as an intravenous infusion, usually in hospital. It is only available with a prescription.
Reference Information
Medicines in Northern Ireland fall under the remit of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) whilst medicines in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) fall under the remit of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) following the UK leaving the European Union. These agencies are responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies.
If you would like to see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) or Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) for Zavicefta please follow these links:
Great Britain
Zavicefta (ceftazidime and avibactam)
Northern Ireland
Zavicefta (ceftazidime and avibactam)
Pfizer is unable to provide advice on personal medical matters. Please consult your doctor or other relevant health professional for specific, health-related advice and support.
If you get any side effects when taking this or any other medicine, talk to your doctor or other relevant health professional e.g. pharmacist, nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the packaging leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or search the Google Play or Apple App Store for MHRA Yellow Card. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.