Aztreonam Injection
Aztreonam Injection is an antibiotic given by vein or muscle to treat serious infections caused by susceptible Gram-negative bacteria, including urinary tract, lung, skin, abdominal, gynecologic infections and septicemia.
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand
The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 4 clinical label sets 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 →
Aztreonam is an older hospital antibiotic, available generically, given by vein or muscle for serious infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria (a large group of germs), such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia and bloodstream infections, and it is commonly chosen for people with a penicillin allergy. Most people tolerate it well, and injection-site soreness, nausea and loose stools are what people tend to notice. Get emergency help for face or throat swelling, wheezing or hives, and report severe watery diarrhea, which can mean a serious colon infection called C. difficile even weeks after treatment ends. Mention every antibiotic allergy, and report any widespread rash or peeling skin right away.
Clinical pearls
- Kidney function gets checked, especially in older adults, because weaker kidneys raise aztreonam levels and may call for a lower dose.
- It covers only Gram-negative germs, so a serious infection may need a second antibiotic for Gram-positive or anaerobic bacteria.
- It should not be paired with cefoxitin or imipenem, which can work against it in some bacteria.
- Treatment usually continues at least 48 hours after symptoms clear, so feeling better is not a reason to stop early.
Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Aztreonam Injection, written from its FDA label.
What Aztreonam Injection is used for
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Aztreonam Injection treats infections caused by susceptible Gram-negative bacteria. Azactam is used for:
- Urinary tract infections, including kidney infection (pyelonephritis) and bladder infection (cystitis)
- Lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia and bronchitis
- Septicemia (bloodstream infection)
- Skin and skin-structure infections, including wounds, ulcers and burns
- Intra-abdominal infections, including peritonitis
- Gynecologic infections, including endometritis and pelvic cellulitis
- Add-on treatment to surgery for infections such as abscesses
How Aztreonam Injection works
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Aztreonam is bactericidal, meaning it kills bacteria. It blocks the building of the bacterial cell wall.
It stays active against some bacteria that make beta-lactamases, enzymes that destroy many other antibiotics.
Aztreonam Injection dosage
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Azactam is given by injection into a vein or deep into a muscle. Doses are typically spaced every 6 to 12 hours, depending on the infection. Your prescriber sets the plan based on the germ, the infection and your kidney function.
- Treatment usually continues at least 48 hours after symptoms resolve.
- Some persistent infections need several weeks.
- Children with normal kidney function receive it by vein.
Dosing details from the FDA-approved label
From the Aztreonam Injection 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.
- Urinary tract infections (adults)
- 500 mg or 1 g every 8 or 12 hours
- Maximum: 8 g per day
- Intravenous or intramuscular; IV route recommended for single doses greater than 1 g
- Moderately severe systemic infections (adults)
- 1 g or 2 g every 8 or 12 hours
- Maximum: 8 g per day
- Intravenous route recommended for single doses greater than 1 g
- Severe systemic or life-threatening infections (adults)
- 2 g every 6 or 8 hours
- Maximum: 8 g per day
- Intravenous route recommended; for Pseudomonas aeruginosa systemic infections, 2 g every six or eight hours at least upon initiation of therapy
- Adults with estimated creatinine clearance between 10 and 30 mL/min/1.73 m2
- After an initial loading dose of 1 g or 2 g, the dosage should be halved
- Renal impairment adjustment
- Adults with severe renal failure (creatinine clearance less than 10 mL/min/1.73 m2), such as those on hemodialysis
- Initial dose of 500 mg, 1 g, or 2 g
- Maintenance dose one-fourth of the usual initial dose at the usual fixed interval of 6, 8, or 12 hours
- For serious or life-threatening infections, one-eighth of the initial dose after each hemodialysis session in addition to maintenance doses
- Severe renal failure adjustment
- Elderly patients
- No fixed regimen given
- Estimates of creatinine clearance should be obtained and appropriate dosage modifications made if necessary
- Renal status is a major determinant of dosage; serum creatinine may not be an accurate determinant
- Pediatric patients: mild to moderate infections
- 30 mg/kg every 8 hours, intravenously
- Maximum: 120 mg/kg/day
- Normal renal function; insufficient data for intramuscular use or renal impairment
- Pediatric patients: moderate to severe infections
- 30 mg/kg every 6 or 8 hours, intravenously
- Maximum: 120 mg/kg/day
- Normal renal function; insufficient data for intramuscular use or renal impairment
Read the label’s full dosing text
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Dosage in Adult Patients AZACTAM may be administered intravenously or by intramuscular injection. Dosage and route of administration should be determined by susceptibility of the causative organisms, severity and site of infection, and the condition of the patient. Table 2: Azactam Dosage Guidelines for Adults* Type of Infection Dose Frequency (hours) * Maximum recommended dose is 8 g per day. Urinary tract infections 500 mg or 1 g 8 or 12 Moderately severe systemic infections 1 g or 2 g 8 or 12 Severe systemic or life-threatening infections 2 g 6 or 8 Because of the serious nature of infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa , dosage of 2 g every six or eight hours is recommended, at least upon initiation of therapy, in systemic infections caused by this organism. The intravenous route is recommended for patients requiring single doses greater than 1 g or those with bacterial septicemia, localized parenchymal abscess (eg, intra-abdominal abscess), peritonitis, or other severe systemic or life-threatening infections. The duration of therapy depends on the severity of infection. Generally, AZACTAM should be continued for at least 48 hours after the patient becomes asymptomatic or evidence of bacterial eradication has been obtained. Persistent infections may require treatment for several weeks. Doses smaller than those indicated should not be used. Renal Impairment in Adult Patients Prolonged serum levels of aztreonam may occur in patients with transient or persistent renal insufficiency. Therefore, the dosage of AZACTAM should be halved in patients with estimated creatinine clearances between 10 and 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 after an initial loading dose of 1g or 2 g. When only the serum creatinine concentration is available, the following formula (based on sex, weight, and age of the patient) may be used to approximate the creatinine clearance (Clcr). The serum creatinine should represent a steady state of renal function. weight (kg) × (140−age) Males: Clcr = ——————————————— 72 × serum creatinine (mg/dL) Females: 0.85 × above value In patients with severe renal failure (creatinine clearance less than 10 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), such as those supported by hemodialysis, the usual dose of 500 mg, 1 g, or 2 g should be given initially.
Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →
Aztreonam Injection side effects
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Most people tolerate Azactam well. Common effects include:
Common side effects
- Pain, swelling or vein irritation at the injection site
- Diarrhea
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rash
- Fever (more often reported in children)
- Headache
When to get medical help
- Get emergency help for signs of a serious allergic reaction: swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, wheezing or hives.
- Call your doctor if you have severe or watery diarrhea, during treatment or even weeks to 2 months after it ends.
- Seek help for a severe skin reaction, such as widespread peeling or blistering.
- Tell your doctor about seizures, confusion or unusual bruising or bleeding.
- Report yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).
Aztreonam Injection warnings and precautions
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- Allergic reactions can be serious and can occur even without prior exposure.
- C. difficile diarrhea can appear during or up to 2 months after antibiotic use.
- Severe skin reactions (toxic epidermal necrolysis) have been reported rarely.
- Use caution if you have had allergic reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins or carbapenems.
Aztreonam Injection interactions
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A few antibiotic combinations matter with Aztreonam Injection:
- Cefoxitin and imipenem: can work against aztreonam's effect in some bacteria, so they should not be used together.
- Nafcillin, cephradine and metronidazole: incompatible when mixed in the same solution with Azactam.
- Other antibiotics may be added at the start for seriously ill patients when other types of bacteria are possible.
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.
Before taking Aztreonam Injection
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- Do not use if allergic to aztreonam or any of its ingredients.
- Tell your doctor about allergies to other beta-lactam antibiotics.
- Kidney disease: the dose is often reduced.
- Older adults: kidney function is checked because the drug clears more slowly.
- Children: Azactam is given by vein; muscle injection data are limited.
Aztreonam Injection overdose
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If too much is given, aztreonam can be removed from the blood by hemodialysis and/or peritoneal dialysis, if needed.
What Aztreonam Injection does in the body
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Aztreonam kills bacteria by stopping cell wall construction. Blood levels after a dose stay above the level needed to stop many Gram-negative bacteria for about 8 hours, and for roughly 4 to 6 hours for Pseudomonas aeruginosa after a high intravenous dose. Urine levels stay high for up to 12 hours.
How your body processes Aztreonam Injection
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After a muscle injection, blood levels peak at about 1 hour. The half-life is about 1.7 hours with normal kidney function. It is cleared mostly by the kidneys, with about 60% to 70% of a dose in urine by 8 hours. Kidney problems and older age slow clearance, while liver problems only slightly prolong it.
How to store Aztreonam Injection
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Store in original packages at 20º to 25ºC (68º to 77ºF) ; avoid excessive heat.
Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
Supplements & herbs that interact with Aztreonam Injection
27 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Aztreonam Injection in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.
- Moderate · 26
- Minor · 1
Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.
Nutrient depletion considerations
Aztreonam Injection has been associated with lower levels of 7 nutrients in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.
- Higher significance · 6
- Moderate · 1
Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.
Aztreonam Injection: pharmacist answers to common questions
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Aztreonam Injection — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
What is Aztreonam Injection used for?
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How will I get it?
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What side effects should I expect?
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What should I call my doctor about right away?
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I'm allergic to penicillin. Can I still get it?
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Do I need to finish the full course?
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Is Aztreonam Injection available over the counter?
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When was Aztreonam Injection first available?
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Who makes Aztreonam Injection?
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Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
More about Aztreonam Injection on HelloPharmacist
Aztreonam Injection forms and strengths (how it comes)
Aztreonam Injection 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 Aztreonam Injection inactive ingredients by manufacturer.
Injection
How this form is used
- Azactam treats infections caused by susceptible Gram-negative bacteria in the urinary tract, lungs, blood, skin, abdomen and female pelvic area.
- Azactam is also used alongside surgery for infections such as abscesses.
- Azactam can be given into a vein or deep into a large muscle.
- Azactam by vein is recommended for single doses over 1 g and for septicemia or other severe infections.
- Azactam for children with normal kidney function is given by vein.
- Azactam is not mixed with local anesthetics for muscle injection.
Aztreonam Injection on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands
How Aztreonam Injection 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.
4 companies list 7 Aztreonam Injection product records with the FDA, mostly as injection; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1986. Brand names on the directory include Azactam, Cayston; the rest are generics.
Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.
How widely Aztreonam Injection is used (Medicaid data)
A general measure of how commonly Aztreonam Injection is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Aztreonam Injection is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Aztreonam Injection prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Aztreonam Injection ranks #1,361 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 15% of them.
Utilization by Aztreonam Injection product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
aztreonam 2000 MG Injection Most dispensed
Summed across the 3 of 10 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1664986
aztreonam 1000 MG Injection
Summed across the 3 of 11 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1664981
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Aztreonam Injection, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 6 of 21 listed Aztreonam Injection NDCs with Medicaid activity.
Compare Aztreonam Injection products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Aztreonam Injection — 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 | ||||
| 1 g | Intramuscular, Intravenous | A-S Medication Solutions | NDA | View NDC → |
| 1 g | Intramuscular, Intravenous | E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 2 g | Intramuscular, Intravenous | E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 1 g | Intramuscular, Intravenous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 2 g | Intramuscular, Intravenous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1 g | Intramuscular, Intravenous | Hospira, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 2 g | Intramuscular, Intravenous | Hospira, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
Showing 7 of 7 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 7 Aztreonam Injection NDCs →
Aztreonam Injection side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Aztreonam Injection — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Aztreonam Injection in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Aztreonam Injection FDA approval history
How Aztreonam Injection went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
Aztreonam Injection 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 Aztreonam recalls since July 2021.
✅No Aztreonam recalls on record since July 2021Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.
RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength
This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.
RxCUI 1272 2 dose forms · 3 strengths
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Dose form (SCDF) Inhalation Solution RxCUI 2108283No current FDA listingClinical drug / strength (SCD) 75 MG/MLRxCUI 901610 -
Dose form (SCDF) Injection RxCUI 1664980In current FDA listings
Look up RxCUI 1272 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.
Aztreonam Injection supply and shortage status
Whether Aztreonam Injection is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
Aztreonam Injection brand names
Aztreonam Injection is sold under 2 brand names in the FDA directory — Azactam, Cayston. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.
Who makes Aztreonam Injection: manufacturers and labelers
4 companies list Aztreonam Injection products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C., Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, Hospira, Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.
Aztreonam Injection drug class (RxNorm)
Aztreonam Injection belongs to the Monobactam Antibacterial class.
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 Aztreonam Injection 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.
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. A-S Medication Solutions 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 →