Two medicines, side by side
Cefoxitin vs cefazolin
Cefoxitin and cefazolin are both labeled for urinary tract infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cefoxitin since 1978 and of cefazolin since 1973. How each works, in its label's words: Cefoxitin, “Mechanism of Action Cefoxitin is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.”; Cefazolin, “Mechanism of Action Cefazolin is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.”
Check it at the source: the cefoxitin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 11, 2024); the cefazolin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 14, 2026).
Highlights of the cefoxitin record
Cefoxitin (Mefoxin) · label of April 11, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsTreatment Cefoxitin for Injection, USP is indicated for the treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the diseases listed below. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 18, 1978
- Generic labelers
- 5 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the cefazolin record
Cefazolin (Ancef) · label of May 14, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsCefazolin for Injection, USP is indicated in the treatment of the following serious infections due to susceptible organisms: Respiratory Tract Infections: Due to S. pneumoniae, Klebsiella species, H. influenzae, S. aureus (penicillin-sensitive and penicillin-resistant), and group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 4, 1973
- Generic labelers
- 15 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.07 per vial
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cefoxitin label of April 11, 2024, Cefazolin label of May 14, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefoxitin and cefazolin differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Cefoxitin, “Mechanism of Action Cefoxitin is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.”; Cefazolin, “Mechanism of Action Cefazolin is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.”
Both are in FDA's class cephalosporin antibacterials.
Half-life, in each label's words: Cefoxitin, “The half-life after an intravenous dose is 41 to 59 minutes.”; Cefazolin, “The serum half-life for Cefazolin for Injection is approximately 1.8 hours following IV administration and …”
Generics: cefoxitin since 1987; cefazolin since 1973 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefoxitin | Cefazolin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | Mechanism of Action Cefoxitin is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. | Mechanism of Action Cefazolin is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. |
| Half-life (label) | The half-life after an intravenous dose is 41 to 59 minutes. | The serum half-life for Cefazolin for Injection is approximately 1.8 hours following IV administration and approximately 2 hours following IM administration. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 18, 1978 | October 4, 1973 |
| First generic approved | January 8, 1987 | November 2, 1973 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 5 labelers | 15 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | $1.07 per vial (Cefazolin 1 g vial) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | +10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,373 | 11,982 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to cefoxitin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions