Omnicef (Cefdinir) is effective against susceptible bacteria causing infections of the middle ear (otitis media), throat, tonsils (tonsillitis ), bronchi (bronchitis), larynx (laryngitis), lungs (pneumonia), and skin and other soft tissues.

It is a semi-synthetic (partially man-made) oral antibiotic in the cephalosporin family of antibiotics. The cephalosporin family includes cephalexin (Keflex), cefaclor (Ceclor), cefuroxime (Zinacef), cefpodoxime (Vantin), cefixime (Suprax), cefprozil and many injectable antibiotics. Like other cephalosporins cefdinir stops bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming walls that surround them. The walls are necessary to protect bacteria from their environment and to keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Bacteria cannot survive without a cell wall. Omnicef is active against a very wide spectrum of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pyogenes (the cause of strep throat); Hemophilus influenzae; Moraxella catarrhalis; E. coli ; Klebsiella; and Proteus mirabilis. It is not active against Pseudomonas. Therapeutic uses of cefdinir include otitis media (infections of the middle ear), infections of soft tissues, and respiratory tract infections. It was approved by the FDA in December of 1997.

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