Bezlotoxumab
Indications
Bezlotoxumab is used for:
Clostridium difficile Infection
Adult Dose
Clostridium difficile Infection
Indicated to reduce recurrence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in adults who are receiving antibacterial drug treatment for CDI and are at a high risk of recurrence
10 mg/kg IV infused over 1 hr as a single dose
Child Dose
Renal Dose
Renal impairment
No dosage adjustment required
No clinically meaningful differences in the exposure of bezlotoxumab were found between patients with renal or hepatic impairment and patients with normal renal or normal hepatic function
Administration
IV Preparation
Must be diluted before IV infusion
Prepare the diluted solution immediately after removal of the vial(s) from refrigerated storage, or the vial(s) may be stored at room temperature protected from light for up to 24 hr before preparation of the diluted solution
Inspect vial contents for discoloration and particulate matter prior to dilution; should appear as a clear-to-moderately opalescent, colorless-to-pale yellow solution
Do not use the vial if the solution is discolored or contains visible particles
Do not shake the vial
Withdraw the required volume from the vial(s) based on the patient’s weight (in kg) and transfer into an IV bag containing either 0.9% NaCl or D5W to prepare a diluted solution with a final concentration ranging from 1-10 mg/mL
Mix diluted solution by gentle inversion; do not shake
Discard vial(s) and all unused contents
IV Administration
Infuse diluted solution IV over 1 hr as a one-time single dose using a sterile, nonpyrogenic, low-protein binding 0.2-5 micron inline or add-on filter
Can be infused via a central line or peripheral catheter
Do not administer as an IV push or bolus
Do not coadminister other drugs simultaneously through the same infusion line
Administer during antibacterial drug treatment for CDI
Contra Indications
Precautions
Heart failure was reported more commonly in clinical trials in bezlotoxumab-treated patients compared with placebo; these adverse reactions occurred primarily in patients with underlying congestive heart failure
In patients with a history of CHF, bezlotoxumab should be reserved for use when benefits outweigh risks
Pregnancy-Lactation
Pregnancy
Adequate and well-controlled studies of bezlotoxumab have not been conducted in pregnant women
No animal reproductive and developmental studies have been conducted
Lactation
Unknown if distributed in human breast milk
Consider the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding along with the mother’s clinical need for the drug, and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition
Interactions
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Bezlotoxumab :
>10%
Heart failure, history of CHF (12.7%)
1-10%
Infusion-related reactions (10%)
Nausea 7%
Pyrexia 5%
Headache 4%
Heart failure, no history of CHF (2.3%)
Mechanism of Action
Human monoclonal antibody that binds to C difficile toxin B and neutralizes its effects; does not bind to C difficile toxin A