Second-generation cephalosporin
Cefaclor
Brand names: Distaclor
Adult dose
Dose: 250–500mg TDS
Route: Oral
Frequency: TDS
Clinical pearls
- BSAC / NICE CKS: alternative cephalosporin where local resistance patterns favour
- UKHSA AMR — narrow-spectrum first-line antibiotics preferred
Contraindications
- Severe penicillin / cephalosporin hypersensitivity
Side effects
- GI upset
- Diarrhoea / C. difficile
- Rash (serum-sickness like reaction reported in children)
- Hypersensitivity
- Hepatotoxicity
Interactions
- Probenecid
- Anticoagulants (rare)
Monitoring
- Resolution of infection
- C. diff risk
Reference: BNF; NICE CKS; BSAC; UKHSA AMR; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/cefaclor/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Pathways
- Infective Endocarditis · ESC 2023 Infective Endocarditis Guidelines; NICE NG41
- Eczema Herpeticum · BAD; NICE CKS
- Suspected Bacterial Meningitis (Adult) · NICE NG240 (2024); NICE NG143 (paeds)
- Clostridioides difficile Colitis · NICE NG199 (2021); IDSA/SHEA 2021
- Returning Traveller — Fever · NaTHNaC; PHE; ESCMID 2018
- Malaria — Diagnosis & Management · PHE 2016; WHO 2023