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Avibactam / Aztreonam

Avibactam / Aztreonam is a combination antibiotic given by IV, used with metronidazole to treat complicated infections inside the abdomen when other options are limited.

Brand name Emblaveo
Drug classes Monobactam Antibacterial
Rx Form 1
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Aug 23, 2026 Content updated Oct 8, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 1 clinical label set within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 9, 2026
Avibactam / Aztreonam at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Emblaveo pairs aztreonam, an IV antibiotic, with avibactam, which blocks the enzymes (beta-lactamases) that resistant bacteria use to destroy it, and is given with metronidazole for complicated infections inside the abdomen in adults with few or no other options, a reserve hospital drug that reached the U.S. market around 2025 and is not available as a generic. Most people seem to tolerate it well, with diarrhea the side effect most noticed, while raised liver enzymes, low potassium and anemia tend to show up on blood tests. The one thing to watch for is an allergic reaction, so report rash, flushing, wheezing or breathing trouble during or after infusions right away.

Clinical pearls

  • Dosing is set by kidney function rather than age, and on dialysis days the dose goes in after the session.
  • Tell the team if you take probenecid (a gout medicine), since it is not recommended alongside Emblaveo.
  • Liver tests are checked during treatment, so mention yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or belly pain promptly.
  • Blistering or peeling skin needs urgent care, and severe watery diarrhea, even months later, may be C. difficile infection.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asInjection
Earliest FDA record2025
Companies listing it with the FDA1
FDA label last updatedJun 24, 2026
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient Information Guide A plain-language walkthrough of Avibactam / Aztreonam, written from its FDA label.

What Avibactam / Aztreonam Is Used For

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Avibactam / Aztreonam is used for serious bacterial infections inside the abdomen.

  • Emblaveo (IV), together with metronidazole, treats complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) in adults 18 and older with limited or no alternative options.
  • It covers certain susceptible gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae complex, Citrobacter freundii complex and Serratia marcescens.
  • Approval is based on limited clinical safety and efficacy data.

How Avibactam / Aztreonam Works

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Aztreonam is a monobactam antibiotic, and avibactam is a beta-lactamase inhibitor. Together, in Emblaveo, they act as an antibacterial against susceptible gram-negative bacteria. Their effect depends on how long drug levels stay above the level needed to stop the infecting bacteria.

Avibactam / Aztreonam Dosage

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Emblaveo is given by IV infusion over about 3 hours in a healthcare setting. A first loading dose is followed by maintenance doses every 6, 8 or 12 hours, depending on kidney function. It is given with metronidazole for abdominal infections, usually for 5 to 14 days.

  • Food does not apply, since it is given by vein.
  • On dialysis days, it is given after dialysis.
  • Your care team handles the schedule, so ask them if a dose is delayed.

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Avibactam / Aztreonam prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) in adults with estimated CLcr greater than 50 mL/min
    • Loading EMBLAVEO 2.67 g (aztreonam 2 grams and avibactam 0.67 grams), then maintenance EMBLAVEO 2 g (aztreonam 1.5 grams and avibactam 0.5 grams), each infused IV over 3 hours every 6 hours
    • Treatment duration 5 to 14 days
    • Administer metronidazole concurrently
    • A single loading dose is followed by maintenance doses beginning at the next dosing interval
  • cIAI in adults with estimated CLcr greater than 30 to less than or equal to 50 mL/min
    • Loading EMBLAVEO 2.67 g (aztreonam 2 grams and avibactam 0.67 grams), then maintenance EMBLAVEO 1 g (aztreonam 0.75 grams and avibactam 0.25 grams), each infused IV over 3 hours every 6 hours
    • Treatment duration 5 to 14 days
    • Administer metronidazole concurrently
    • Close monitoring of estimated CLcr is advised in renal impairment
  • cIAI in adults with estimated CLcr greater than 15 to less than or equal to 30 mL/min
    • Loading EMBLAVEO 1.8 g (aztreonam 1.35 grams and avibactam 0.45 grams), then maintenance EMBLAVEO 0.9 g (aztreonam 0.675 grams and avibactam 0.225 grams), each infused IV over 3 hours every 8 hours
    • Treatment duration 5 to 14 days
    • Administer metronidazole concurrently
    • Close monitoring of estimated CLcr is advised in renal impairment
  • cIAI in adults with estimated CLcr less than or equal to 15 mL/min, including on hemodialysis
    • Loading EMBLAVEO 1.33 g (aztreonam 1 gram and avibactam 0.33 grams), then maintenance EMBLAVEO 0.9 g (aztreonam 0.675 grams and avibactam 0.225 grams), each infused IV over 3 hours every 12 hours
    • Treatment duration 5 to 14 days
    • Administer metronidazole concurrently
    • Aztreonam and avibactam are removed by hemodialysis; administer EMBLAVEO after hemodialysis on hemodialysis days
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Recommended Dosage in Adults based on Estimated Creatinine Clearance (C Lcr ) ( 2.1 , 2.2 ) Estimated C Lcr (mL/min) a Dose b Infusion Time Dosing Interval c Loading Maintenance Greater than 50 mL/min EMBLAVEO 2.67 g (aztreonam 2 grams and avibactam 0.67 grams) EMBLAVEO 2 g (aztreonam 1.5 grams and avibactam 0.5 grams) 3 hours Every 6 hours Greater than 30 to less than or equal to 50 mL/min EMBLAVEO 2.67 g (aztreonam 2 grams and avibactam 0.67 grams) EMBLAVEO 1 g (aztreonam 0.75 grams and avibactam 0.25 grams) 3 hours Every 6 hours Greater than 15 to less than or equal to 30 mL/min EMBLAVEO 1.8 g (aztreonam 1.35 grams and avibactam 0.45 grams) EMBLAVEO 0.9 g (aztreonam 0.675 grams and avibactam 0.225 grams) 3 hours Every 8 hours Less than or equal to 15 mL/min, including on hemodialysis d EMBLAVEO 1.33 g (aztreonam 1 gram and avibactam 0.33 grams) EMBLAVEO 0.9 g (aztreonam 0.675 grams and avibactam 0.225 grams) 3 hours Every 12 hours a Calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula. b Aztreonam-avibactam is a combination product in a fixed 3:1 ratio. A single loading dose is followed by maintenance doses beginning at the next dosing interval. c Dosing interval is calculated from the start of one infusion to the start of the subsequent infusion. d Both aztreonam and avibactam are removed by hemodialysis; thus, administer EMBLAVEO after hemodialysis, on hemodialysis days. For treatment of cIAI, administer metronidazole concurrently. ( 2.1 , 2.2 ) Recommended duration of treatment for cIAI: 5 to 14 days. ( 2.1 , 2.2 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage in Adults with Estimated Creatinine Clearance G reater than 50 mL/min Table 1 shows the recommended dosage to be administered by intravenous (IV) infusion over 3 hours in adults with estimated creatinine clearance (CLcr) greater than 50 mL/min. Table 1. Recommended dosage for adults with estimated CLcr greater than 50 mL/min a Type of Infection Recommended Doses for EMBLAVEO (aztreonam and avibactam) b Dosing Interval c Treatment duration Complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) d Loading EMBLAVEO 2.67 g (aztreonam 2 grams and avibactam 0.67 grams) Every 6 hours 5 to 14 days Maintenance EMBLAVEO 2 g (aztreonam 1.5 grams and avibactam 0.5 grams) a Calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula. b Aztreonam-avibactam is a combination product in a fixed 3:1 ratio.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Avibactam / Aztreonam Side Effects

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The most common side effects in studies were:

Common side effects

  • Liver test changes (raised liver enzymes)
  • Anemia (low red blood cell count)
  • Diarrhea
  • Low potassium (hypokalemia)
  • Fever

When to get medical help

  • Rash, flushing, wheezing or trouble breathing during or after an infusion can signal an allergic reaction. Tell your care team right away.
  • Severe blistering, peeling or painful skin reactions need urgent attention.
  • Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or belly pain may point to liver problems. Report them.
  • Severe or watery diarrhea, even weeks or months after treatment, may be C. difficile infection. Call your doctor.

Avibactam / Aztreonam Warnings and Precautions

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  • Allergic reactions (rash, flushing, bronchospasm) can occur. Treatment is stopped if they do.
  • Serious skin reactions such as toxic epidermal necrolysis have been reported with aztreonam.
  • Liver enzymes can rise, so liver tests are monitored.
  • C. difficile-associated diarrhea can occur, even more than 2 months after antibiotics.
  • Using antibiotics without a bacterial infection adds risk of drug-resistant bacteria without benefit.

Avibactam / Aztreonam Interactions

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Few interactions are described.

  • Probenecid and other OAT1/3 inhibitors: not recommended, as the effect on Emblaveo is not well understood.
  • Metronidazole: no interaction was seen, and it is used together with Emblaveo for abdominal infections.
  • Other medicines: Emblaveo should not be mixed in the same solution.

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Avibactam / Aztreonam prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • OAT 1 and OAT 3 transporter inhibitors (e.g., probenecid): There is insufficient information to characterize the effect of concomitant use of OAT 1/3 transport inhibitors with EMBLAVEO. Concomitant use is not recommended.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 OAT 1 and 3 Transport Inhibitors Concomitant use of organic anion transporter (OAT) 1 and OAT 3 transporter inhibitors (e.g., probenecid) with EMBLAVEO is not recommended. There is insufficient information to characterize the effect of concomitant use of OAT 1/3 transport inhibitors with EMBLAVEO [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )].

Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

Check Avibactam / Aztreonam against a supplement or herb →

Before Taking Avibactam / Aztreonam

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  • Do not use if you are allergic to aztreonam or avibactam.
  • Kidney problems require dose changes and monitoring.
  • Older adults are dosed by kidney function.
  • Liver conditions or liver-affecting medicines call for closer liver tests.
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding: discuss with your doctor, as human data are limited.
  • Not established for people under 18.

Avibactam / Aztreonam Overdose

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There is no information on the signs and symptoms of an Emblaveo overdose. Aztreonam and avibactam can be partly removed by hemodialysis, but no clinical information exists on using it for overdose.

What Avibactam / Aztreonam Does in the Body

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Aztreonam's effectiveness is linked to how long its unbound blood levels stay above the level needed to stop the bacteria. Avibactam works best when its levels stay above a threshold for long enough. Avibactam did not meaningfully affect heart rhythm (QTc) at 3 times the maximum loading dose, and aztreonam has not been tested for this.

How Your Body Processes Avibactam / Aztreonam

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Both drugs have a half-life of about 2 hours and show little buildup with dosing every 6 hours in people with normal kidneys. Neither is significantly broken down by the liver. Both are cleared mainly by the kidneys, largely unchanged in urine. Reduced kidney function raises drug levels, so doses are adjusted. Dialysis removes both drugs.

How to Store Avibactam / Aztreonam

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stored at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Protect from light. Store in carton until time of use.

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

Avibactam / Aztreonam: Pharmacist Answers to Common Questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Avibactam / Aztreonam — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What is Emblaveo used for?

▾
It is used together with metronidazole to treat complicated infections inside the abdomen in adults 18 and older who have limited or no other treatment options. It targets certain gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli and Klebsiella.

How is Emblaveo given, and for how long?

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A healthcare professional gives it through a vein, over about 3 hours per dose, every 6, 8 or 12 hours depending on your kidneys. Treatment usually lasts 5 to 14 days. Your care team sets the exact plan.

What side effects should I expect?

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The most common are liver test changes, anemia, diarrhea, low potassium and fever. Most are picked up through monitoring. Tell your team about rash, trouble breathing, skin blistering, yellow eyes or skin, or severe diarrhea.

Do I need a different dose if my kidneys don't work well?

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Yes. Both drugs are cleared by the kidneys, so lower kidney function raises drug levels. Your dose and timing are adjusted, and your kidney function may be rechecked during treatment. If you're on dialysis, the dose is given after your session.

Is Emblaveo safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

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There are no data on Emblaveo in pregnant women, so your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks with you. Aztreonam appears in breast milk in very small amounts, and there are no human data on avibactam. Talk with your doctor about breastfeeding.

Can I take other medicines with it?

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Metronidazole is used with it and no interaction was seen. Probenecid and similar medicines are not recommended with Emblaveo. Tell your care team about everything you take.

Is Avibactam / Aztreonam available over the counter?

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No. Avibactam / Aztreonam is a prescription medicine: every Avibactam / Aztreonam product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Avibactam / Aztreonam first available?

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The earliest FDA record we hold for Avibactam / Aztreonam is from 2025: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Avibactam / Aztreonam was first used.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More About Avibactam / Aztreonam on HelloPharmacist

🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerAvibactam / Aztreonam vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Avibactam / Aztreonam NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed Data & References for Avibactam / Aztreonam Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Avibactam / Aztreonam Forms and Strengths (How It Comes)

Avibactam / Aztreonam is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Avibactam / Aztreonam inactive ingredients by manufacturer.

Injection

Into a vein
Brands Emblaveo
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Emblaveo is used with metronidazole for complicated intra-abdominal infections in adults 18 and older with limited or no alternative options.
Important instructions
  • Emblaveo is supplied as a powder that is mixed and diluted before being given as an IV infusion.
  • Emblaveo is infused over 3 hours, with the dosing interval set by kidney function.
  • On hemodialysis days, Emblaveo is given after dialysis.
  • Emblaveo should not be mixed with other medicines in the same solution.
Available strengths 2 strengths
42.3 mg/mL / 127 mg/mL 127 mg/mL / 42.3 mg/mL
2 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Avibactam / Aztreonam on the U.S. Market: Products, Makers and Brands

How Avibactam / Aztreonam appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

1 company lists 1 Avibactam / Aztreonam product record with the FDA, mostly as injection; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 2025. Brand names on the directory include Emblaveo; the rest are generics.

1
Dose forms ⓘ
1
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
1
Brand names
1
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
2025
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

Compare Avibactam / Aztreonam Products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Avibactam / Aztreonam — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Strength Route Manufacturer / Labeler Category ⓘ Details
💊Injection
AZTREONAM 42.3 mg/mL; AVIBACTAM 127 mg/mL Intravenous AbbVie Inc. NDA View NDC →

Showing 1 of 1 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 1 Avibactam / Aztreonam NDCs →

Avibactam / Aztreonam Recall History

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Avibactam / Aztreonam recalls since July 2021.

✅No Avibactam / Aztreonam recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Oct 8, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one exact multiple-ingredient concept (MIN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). A product with a different ingredient combination belongs on a different page.

Multiple ingredients (MIN) Avibactam / Aztreonam RxCUI 2705352 1 dose form · 1 strength

Look up RxCUI 2705352 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

Avibactam / Aztreonam Brand Names

Avibactam / Aztreonam is sold under one brand name in the FDA directory — Emblaveo. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Emblaveo

Who Makes Avibactam / Aztreonam: Manufacturers and Labelers

One company lists Avibactam / Aztreonam products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are AbbVie Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

AbbVie Inc. 1

Avibactam / Aztreonam Drug Class (RxNorm)

Avibactam / Aztreonam belongs to the Monobactam Antibacterial class.

Pharmacologic class Monobactam Antibacterial
Drug family (ATC) Monobactams

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for This Avibactam / Aztreonam Page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Jun 24, 2026
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Avibactam / Aztreonam.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Avibactam / Aztreonam after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
1
Finished products in the current FDA directory
1
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
1
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
1
Linked representative label ⓘ
AbbVie Inc.
Linked label effective
Jun 24, 2026
Composite sections available
21
Linked SPL Set ID
be1a6c99-d4b3-46d7-9e99-6e5f9fab556a
Linked SPL Document ID
35d361ac-c141-4544-bb6a-a6c308d64497
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. AbbVie Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →