Cefotetan

Pronunciation: pronunciation varies by local usage.

Generic name: cefotetan
Drug class: Cephamycin/cephalosporin antibacterial
Form: Vial (1 g and 2 g strengths verified)
Route: Intravenous or intramuscular injection
Legal status: Prescription-only medicine

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States

What cefotetan is and how it works

Cefotetan is a prescription cephamycin/cephalosporin antibacterial given by intravenous or intramuscular injection. It is labelled for use only when a bacterial infection is proven or strongly suspected, or for labelled surgical prophylaxis. (1)

This medicine is administered under prescriber direction. Indications, doses, prophylaxis timing, preparation, and treatment duration are all determined by the prescriber. Cefotetan is not for viral infections.

Mechanism of action: how cefotetan works

Cefotetan is a cephamycin/cephalosporin antibacterial with activity against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It inhibits bacterial cell-wall synthesis. (1)

What cefotetan is used for

Treatment of susceptible bacterial infections

Cefotetan may be used when a bacterial infection is proven or strongly suspected and the prescriber determines that cefotetan is appropriate based on susceptibility, infection site, and patient factors. All dosing and duration decisions are prescriber-directed. (1)

Surgical prophylaxis

Cefotetan may be used for labelled surgical prophylaxis when the prescriber selects it. Timing, dose, and duration follow the prescriber's protocol and the current product label. (1)

Before taking cefotetan

Do not take / not appropriate for

Do not receive cefotetan if the responsible prescriber determines there is a history of severe hypersensitivity to cefotetan, other cephalosporins, or any product ingredient, unless the prescriber applies the exact labelled contraindication criteria. (all products) (1)

Tell your clinician about

Any previous allergic reaction to a beta-lactam antibacterial (penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, monobactams) including rash, breathing difficulty, or anaphylaxis.
History of gastrointestinal disease, particularly colitis, or previous diarrhoea after antibiotic use.
Any bleeding disorder, tendency to bruise easily, or use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines.
Current medicines, supplements, and alcohol intake because of the risk of a disulfiram-like reaction.
Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
Kidney disease or any condition that may affect renal function.

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How to take cefotetan

Cefotetan is prepared and administered by a healthcare professional as an intravenous or intramuscular injection according to the prescriber's exact instructions.
The dose, infusion time, route, interval, and total duration depend on the infection type, severity, renal function, and surgical-prophylaxis protocol. Do not request a different dose or schedule yourself.
If you are receiving cefotetan as surgical prophylaxis, the timing relative to the procedure is determined by the surgical and anaesthesia team.

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Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1)

Missed dose

If a scheduled dose is delayed or missed in a healthcare setting, the clinical team will reschedule. If you are receiving cefotetan in an outpatient setting, contact the prescribing service immediately for instructions. Do not arrange a dose or change the schedule yourself.

Overdose

Overdose is managed in a healthcare setting. If you suspect a wrong dose or an administration error has occurred, alert the treating clinician immediately. Seek emergency care if any severe reaction symptoms develop. (1)

Side effects

Side effects can occur with cefotetan. Serious reactions including allergic events, severe diarrhoea, and bleeding problems require prompt medical attention.

Injection-site reaction

What to notice: Pain, redness, or swelling where the injection was given.

What to do: Tell the treating team if the reaction is severe, worsening, or spreading. (1)

Gastrointestinal symptoms

What to notice: Nausea, vomiting, or loose stools during treatment.

What to do: Report persistent or troublesome symptoms to the prescriber rather than altering treatment yourself. (1)

Severe or persistent diarrhoea

What to notice: Watery or bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever, or weakness developing during or up to several weeks after treatment.

What to do: Contact the prescriber promptly for assessment. This may be Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhoea, which needs urgent medical evaluation. (1)

Unusual bleeding or bruising

What to notice: Easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts, nosebleeds, blood in urine or stool, or unusually heavy menstrual bleeding.

What to do: Contact the prescriber promptly. Cefotetan can affect blood clotting, and this risk needs medical assessment. (1)

Serious warnings

Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) — emergency

Symptoms: Breathing difficulty, throat or tongue swelling, widespread hives, faintness, fast heartbeat, or collapse. Beta-lactam allergy can be cross-reactive and life-threatening.

Action: Alert the healthcare team immediately if in a clinical setting. If symptoms begin after leaving care, use emergency treatment as directed in any existing action plan and call emergency services. (1)

Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhoea — serious

Symptoms: Watery or bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fever, which may start during treatment or weeks later.

Action: Seek medical attention promptly and inform the clinician about recent cefotetan treatment. Do not use anti-diarrhoea medicines unless the clinician you see explicitly advises it. (1)

Disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol — serious

Symptoms: Flushing, throbbing headache, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, palpitations, or confusion if alcohol is consumed during or within a period after treatment.

Action: Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe. Avoid all alcohol-containing drinks, medicines, and foods for the period specified by the prescriber. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or test	Effect	Action
Alcohol (drinks, medicines, foods)	Cefotetan can cause a disulfiram-like reaction if alcohol is consumed during and for a defined period after treatment. Symptoms include flushing, headache, nausea, chest pain, and palpitations.	Avoid all alcohol intake for the full period specified by the prescriber. Check medicine labels and food ingredients for hidden alcohol. (1)
Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medicines	Cefotetan may increase bleeding risk by affecting vitamin-K-dependent clotting factors.	Give the prescriber a complete list of all medicines, including non-prescription and herbal products, so that clotting risk can be assessed and monitored. (1)
Other antibacterials and medicines that affect renal function		Ensure the prescriber and pharmacist have a complete treatment list before cefotetan is administered. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

People with renal impairment

Cefotetan requires dose adjustment in renal impairment. The prescriber will calculate the dose and interval using the current label and renal function results. Do not assume a standard dose applies. (1)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Discuss benefits and risks with the prescriber. Cefotetan is used only when the prescriber determines it is appropriate based on the infection, alternative options, and current product information. (1)

People with bleeding or clotting disorders

The prescriber must assess bleeding risk before and during treatment. Tell the prescriber about any history of clotting problems, anticoagulant use, or unusual bleeding. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

Confirm the infection is proven or strongly suspected bacterial and that cefotetan susceptibility is expected.
Assess allergy history, especially beta-lactam hypersensitivity, and previous antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
Evaluate renal function, bleeding risk, clotting history, alcohol intake, and all concurrent medicines.
Select the correct dose, route, and prophylaxis timing based on the labelled indication and patient factors.

During treatment

Monitor for hypersensitivity reactions, especially after initial doses.
Monitor for diarrhoea, bleeding signs, and superinfection throughout treatment and for weeks after completion.
Reassess renal function and adjust dosing as the current label directs.
Monitor prothrombin time or INR where indicated, especially in at-risk patients or those receiving concomitant anticoagulation.

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Storage

Cefotetan vials are stored and reconstituted by healthcare professionals according to the product label. The prepared solution must be used within the labelled stability window. Do not use a vial if the packaging, expiry, or appearance is uncertain; return it to a pharmacy for assessment.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Use the current local label, institutional susceptibility data, and guideline-directed antibacterial stewardship principles.

United States (verified)

Indication: Treatment of susceptible bacterial infections and surgical prophylaxis

Dose summary: Dose, interval, route, infusion time, and duration are determined by the prescriber using the current FDA label. Dose reduction is required in renal impairment.

Renal context: Renal dose adjustment is necessary; the current label provides specific adjustment criteria. Do not extrapolate a fixed-dose reduction from non-specialist sources. (1)

Regions outside the United States

Indication: Any cefotetan use

Mechanism of action

Overdose note

In the event of an overdose or suspected medication error, obtain product identification, calculate the administered dose, arrange supportive monitoring, and contact a poison-information service. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Can I drink alcohol while receiving cefotetan?

No. Cefotetan can cause a disulfiram-like reaction if alcohol is consumed during treatment and for a period after treatment stops. The prescriber will tell you how long you must avoid all alcohol-containing drinks, medicines, and foods. (1)

What should I do if I get diarrhoea after cefotetan treatment?

Tell the prescriber promptly, especially if the diarrhoea is watery, contains blood, or comes with stomach pain or fever. This type of diarrhoea can start during treatment or weeks later and may be a serious infection requiring urgent medical assessment. (1)

Can cefotetan be used for a viral infection like a cold or the flu?

No. Cefotetan is an antibacterial medicine. It is used only for bacterial infections that the prescriber has confirmed or strongly suspects, or for labelled surgical prophylaxis. Using it when it is not needed can make it less effective for future infections and increases the risk of side effects. (1)

What is the mechanism of action of cefotetan?

Cefotetan is a cephamycin/cephalosporin antibacterial with activity against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It inhibits bacterial cell-wall synthesis. (1)

What is the generic name of Cefotetan?

The generic name is cefotetan. (1)

What class of drug is cefotetan?

Cefotetan is classed as: Cephamycin/cephalosporin antibacterial. (1)

References

Cefotetan injection, powder, for solution — current prescribing informationU.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed · United States · dated 2025-01-08 · accessed 2026-08-11 · source 1
Cefotetan Injection — patient drug information (MedlinePlus)U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 2
Cefotetan — FDA approval record (Drugs@FDA ANDA091031)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 3
cefotetan — RxNorm normalized drug concept (RXCUI 2187)U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 4

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient cefotetan names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

Cefotan2 g/20mL, 1 g0mL · pai holdings, llc dba pai pharma

View brands in additional countries.