Please read this leaflet carefully before the doctor or nurse starts to give you this medicine.

If you do not understand it or you want to know more, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Keep the leaflet, you may want to read it again.

This leaflet is a summary. It does not contain the complete information about your medicine. If you have any further questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist who have access to additional information.

The name of your medicine is Cefrom. It is a powder which has been mixed with liquid, normally Water for Injection, to make a solution which is ready for use as an injection or an infusion (a "drip").

If Cefrom is used as an injection it contains a concentration of 1g of cefpirome, the active ingredient, in 10ml of solution.

If Cefrom is used as an infusion it contains a concentration of 1g of cefpirome, the active ingredient, in 50ml of solution.

Cefrom is available as 0.25g, 0.5g, 1g and 2g packs.

The injection solution also contains Water for Injection and anhydrous sodium carbonate.

The infusion solution contains anhydrous sodium carbonate and may also contain other ingredients depending on the liquid used in your drip prescribed by your doctor. You should ask the person giving you the drip what it contains in case you may be allergic to any of these ingredients .

Cefpirome sulphate, the active ingredient, belongs to a group of medicines called antibiotics. Antibiotics kill bacteria which cause infections in your body.

The marketing authorisation for Cefrom is held by Roussel Laboratories Ltd, Broadwater Park, North Orbital Road, Denham, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB9 5HP.

It is manufactured either by Roussel Laboratories Ltd, Covingham, Swindon, Wiltshire or by Hoechst AG, 6230 Frankfurt am Main 80, Germany.

Your medicine is used to treat bacterial infections.

Before you are given Cefrom, please read the following statements.

• Have you ever suffered a severe reaction to this or any other antibiotics, particularly penicillins ?
• Are you pregnant or breast feeding ?
• Are you allergic to sodium carbonate ?
• Are you under 12 years of age ?

If you think that any of the statements apply to you, DO NOT have the injection or drip - discuss the situation with your nurse or doctor before you are given your medicine.

Cefrom may interfere with other medicines that you may be taking; such as loop diuretics (used to increase the flow of urine) and aminoglycoside antibiotics (used to treat infections).

In some cases your doctor will arrange further monitoring for you, but this is routine and nothing to worry about.

It is important that you tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about ALL the medicines that you are taking including those bought without a prescription.

Your medicine will always be given to you by a doctor or nurse. This is because it needs to be given either as an injection or by a drip.

Your doctor will have prescribed the dose of the medicine which is correct for you, depending on the type of infection and any other illnesses you may have. If you ask the person giving you the medicine they will tell you how much and how often you have been prescribed it by your doctor.

It is most unlikely that you will be given too much medicine by the nurse or doctor. Your doctor and nurse will be monitoring your progress, and checking the medicine that you are given. Always ask if you are not sure why you are getting a dose of medicine.

Your doctor or nurse have instructions when to give you your medicine. It is most unlikely that you will not be given the medicine as it has been prescribed. If you think that you may have missed a dose then talk to your nurse or doctor. It is important that the course of treatment your doctor has prescribed is taken. You may start to feel better but it is important not to stop taking this medicine, until the doctor advises, otherwise your condition may get worse again.

You may develop a skin rash or itchy skin, a fever, pain in your kidney region, tummy upsets, slight sickness or diarrhoea. If the diarrhoea gets very bad then no more Cefrom should be given to you and other medicines will be given to you to stop the diarrhoea.

If Cefrom is given as an injection some people find it slightly painful where the injection has been given and the skin may feel tingly or itchy.

Some people find that their sense of taste may be affected for a short time after taking Cefrom.

People may sometimes develop severe allergic reactions, such as breathing difficulties which will require treatment immediately. If you experience this you should call a doctor or nurse urgently.

Cefrom may sometimes affect your blood, although this is very unusual. It may cause you to feel tired or generally unwell. If you take the medicine for more than 10 days, your doctor may ask you to take a blood test, but this is just routine and nothing to worry about.

If you think you are reacting badly in any of these or any other ways to your medicine, talk to your nurse or doctor straight away.

You will not be asked to store your medicine. It will be brought to your bed ready to be given to you straight away.

Vials of Cefrom must be stored below 25°C (normal room temperature).

This leaflet was revised in October 1994.