Cefoxitin
| Evidence Level: L5 | Predicted Indications: 8 |
Table of Contents
Cefoxitin: cephamycin antibiotic → infectious otitis media
One-Sentence Summary
Cefoxitin is a cephamycin-class injectable antibiotic that is marketed in Canada. The TxGNN model predicts it may be effective for infectious otitis media. Only 1 publication was retrieved for this disease, and it is a review of MRSA that does not test cefoxitin as a treatment. There are no clinical trials for this disease.
Quick Overview
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Original Indication | Not recorded in the local data |
| Predicted New Indication | infectious otitis media |
| TxGNN Prediction Score | 0.9930 |
| Evidence Level | L5 |
| Canada Market Status | Marketed (marketed DINs: 2 of 2) |
| Number of DINs | 2 (marketed: 2) |
| Recommended Decision | Hold |
Why is This Prediction Reasonable?
Detailed mechanism-of-action data is not available in the data compiled for this report. Based on what is known, cefoxitin is a cephamycin with stability against many beta-lactamases. It is active against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species and anaerobes, which are organisms that can be involved in middle ear infections.
The prediction is plausible in terms of pathogen overlap, but it is not supported by clinical data. The only publication retrieved is a review of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and MRSA is intrinsically resistant to cefoxitin. That paper therefore gives no support for treatment efficacy. The high score is a model prediction only.
Clinical Trial Evidence
Currently no related clinical trials registered.
Literature Evidence
| PMID | Year | Type | Journal | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33061472 | 2020 | Review | Infection and Drug Resistance | One Health review of MRSA epidemiology, virulence and resistance; lists otitis media among the diseases MRSA can cause. It does not evaluate cefoxitin treatment. |
Canada Market Information
| DIN | Product Name | Dosage Form | Approved Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02128187 | CEFOXITIN FOR INJECTION | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| 02128195 | CEFOXITIN FOR INJECTION | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Both authorisations are single-ingredient products and both are currently valid.
Safety Considerations
- Drug Interactions: 35 interactions were identified in total. The main ones rated Moderate are kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, picosulfuric acid and dicoumarol. Heparin is rated Minor. Many others (for example vancomycin, metronidazole, omeprazole, morphine) have no assigned severity level.
For warnings and contraindications, please refer to the package insert.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Decision: Hold
Rationale: The prediction has no supporting clinical trial and only one indirect publication, which concerns a pathogen (MRSA) that cefoxitin does not cover. The evidence rests on the model prediction alone (L5).
To proceed, the following is needed:
- Clinical or microbiological studies that directly test cefoxitin in otitis media, including local susceptibility data for the relevant pathogens
- Health Canada package insert warnings and contraindications
- Mechanism of action data
Disclaimer
This content is for research purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical validation is required before any clinical application.