China Ceftiofur HCl API CAS 103980-44-5

Ceftiofur is an antibiotic of the cephalosporin type (third generation), licensed for use in veterinary medicine. It was first described in 1987. It is marketed by pharmaceutical company Zoetis as Excenel, Naxcel, and Excede and is also the active ingredient in that company's Spectramast LC (lactating cow formulation) and Spectramast DC (dry cow formulation) product.

It is resistant to the antibiotic resistance enzyme beta-lactamase, and has activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. strains resistant to ceftiofur have been reported.
Ceftiofur sodium / ceftiofur hydrochloride is suitable for the treatment of bovine respiratory diseases (transport fever, pneumonia) caused by Pasteurella hemolyticus, Pasteurella multocida, Haemophilus typhimurium, lactation and non-lactation use. Ceftiofur sodium can be used for horse respiratory diseases caused by the subspecies of Streptococcus equi subsp., and ceftiofur hydrochloride can be used for rot rot disease of cattle. For pigs, both can be used to control/treat bacterial pneumonia. Ceftiofur sodium is also suitable for respiratory diseases in sheep and goats and sensitive urinary tract infections in dogs. It also has potential therapeutic effects on other small animal infections and can be used in newborn chicks and turkeys.

The metabolite desfurolyceftiofur also has antibiotic activity. The two compounds are measured together to measure for antibiotic activity in milk (alongside other antibiotics).