Nafcillin

Nafcillin sodium is a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class. As a beta-lactamase-resistant penicillin, it is used to treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, in particular, species of staphylococci that are resistant to other penicillins.

Nafcillin is considered therapeutically equivalent to oxacillin, although its safety profile is somewhat different.

Indications
Nafcillin is indicated in the treatment of staphylococcal infections, except those caused by MRSA.

U.S. clinical practice guidelines recommend either nafcillin or oxacillin as the first-line treatment of choice for staphylococcal endocarditis in patients without artificial heart valves.

Side-effects
As with all penicillins, serious life-threatening allergic reactions can occur.

Milder side-effects include:
 * Nausea and vomiting
 * Diarrhea, often due to suppression of normal gastrointestinal bacteria, which, on occasion, leads to a more serious super-infection with an organism like Clostridium difficile
 * Abdominal pain
 * Yeast infections (thrush) affecting the mouth and tongue or vagina
 * Agranulocytosis, neutropenia

Interactions
There is evidence that it induces cytochrome P-450 enzymes.

The other aspect of this medication is that this medication contains lots of salts as media. So it could cause some edema or fluid accumulation. It would be prudent to avoid this medication if there were a concern for a congestive heart failure or kidney disease.