Infectofos

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Infectofos

What is Infectofos? Definition and Authoritative Classification

Property Description
Active ingredient Fosfomycin
Form Powder/Granules for solution
Pharmacological class Bactericidal Antibiotic
General purpose Resolving Bacterial Infections
Origin Synthetic (Phosphonic acid derivative)

The medication Infectofos is a brand-name formulation of the unique, potent bactericidal antibiotic, fosfomycin. This substance is classified as an epoxide class antibiotic, distinguishing it structurally from all other major antimicrobial groups. The structural difference is significant because it provides a mechanism of action capable of addressing bacteria that may be resistant to more common antibiotics. It is a broad-spectrum agent effective against a wide array of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.


Composition, Origin, and Available Forms

Fosfomycin is a single-ingredient product, chemically derived from phosphonic acid and produced through a controlled synthetic process. This ensures a high-purity compound for medical use. The medication is supplied in distinct dosage forms necessary for different routes of delivery. It is prepared as a sterile powder for solution for infusion for intravenous (IV) administration, utilizing the fosfomycin disodium salt, and is also available as granules for oral solution which contain the fosfomycin trometamol salt. The low molecular weight of the compound allows it to easily enter the bacterial cell, which is crucial for its mechanism of action.


General Therapeutic Purpose

The overall therapeutic purpose of Infectofos is to resolve and control significant bacterial infections. It achieves this by functioning as a highly specific inhibitor in the early stages of the production of the bacterial cell wall, which is essential for the cell’s structure and survival. By disrupting this essential building process—the irreversible inhibition of the MurA enzyme—the medication effectively prevents the bacteria from multiplying, leading directly to the death of the infectious agent.

Regulatory References

  1. epoxide class antibiotic

What side effects are possible with Infectofos?

Possible side effects and safety information

This section describes the officially documented adverse reactions and safety restrictions associated with Infectofos, as recognized by government health authorities.

Frequency-Classified Adverse Reactions

The safety profile is structured by the frequency with which side effects were observed in clinical trials. Common adverse reactions, defined as those occurring in 2% or more of patients, may include:

  • Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: Hypokalemia (low potassium), hypocalcemia (low calcium), hypernatremia (high sodium), and hypophosphatemia (low phosphate).
  • Gastrointestinal Disorders: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
  • Hematologic/Hepatic: Neutropenia (low white blood cell count) and transaminase elevations (changes in liver enzymes).
  • Nervous System Disorders: Headache.

Serious Adverse Reactions and Safety Restrictions

Regulatory documents highlight specific clinically significant safety concerns and mandated limitations for the use of this medicine:

  • Serious Risks: Clinically significant safety concerns include the potential for QT interval prolongation (a heart rhythm change) and severe neutropenia, including agranulocytosis.
  • Contraindication: Infectofos is contraindicated and must not be used in individuals with a known serious hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction) to fosfomycin.
  • Safety Monitoring: Due to the risk profile, government labeling requires close monitoring of the patient's electrolytes (such as potassium and sodium), hepatic enzymes, and a complete blood count (CBC) throughout the course of treatment. This is partly necessary because the intravenous formulation has a high sodium load, which requires attention to fluid and electrolyte balance.

Overdose and Emergency Response

The official regulatory profile for Infectofos (Fosfomycin) defines overdose by specific documented clinical manifestations and mandated emergency responses. Experience with oral overdose is limited, but reported signs include specific sensory and neurological changes, such as impaired hearing, vestibular loss (balance issues), and altered taste perception, including a metallic taste.

Overdose involving the parenteral (IV) formulation presents more severe systemic risks, with documented manifestations including hypotonia, somnolence, and critical systemic issues such as electrolyte disturbances, thrombocytopenia, and hypoprothrombinemia. Due to the potential for severe effects, the patient must be monitored, with specific attention directed toward plasma/serum electrolyte levels.

Immediate medical help must be sought when any documented signs of overdose are observed. Urgent action is also required if signs of a severe hypersensitivity reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) occur, which mandates the immediate discontinuation of the medication and the initiation of adequate emergency measures. Treatment for overdose is symptomatic and supportive. Rehydration is officially recommended to promote drug elimination, and the substance is effectively cleared from the body by haemodialysis. No specific antidote is officially documented.

Therapeutic Uses of Infectofos

What Infectofos Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Infectofos is a therapeutic agent that may be utilized for the management of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as acute cystitis, in women and adolescent girls. It helps to address the associated symptoms, including urinary discomfort and frequency. This medicine is also indicated for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults, which encompasses acute pyelonephritis (kidney infection), particularly when commonly recommended antibacterial agents are not considered appropriate.

“The use of this antibiotic is primarily confined to specific, defined bacterial infections where benefit is clearly established.”

Infectofos may also be prescribed for short-term prevention of infection associated with certain medical procedures, such as a transrectal prostate biopsy, as directed by a specialist.


Quick Fact: Relief for Urinary Symptoms

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Eligibility Map: Who Can and Cannot Use Infectofos

Official regulatory documents define specific populations who are eligible for, restricted from, or absolutely prohibited from using Infectofos (fosfomycin). This information is divided based on formulation (oral vs. intravenous).

Eligibility Scope Criteria Regulatory Status
Contraindicated Known serious hypersensitivity to fosfomycin or excipients. Prohibited
Severe renal insufficiency (CrCl <10 mL/min/1.73m^2) (Oral form). Prohibited
Known QT prolongation or ventricular arrhythmias (IV form). Prohibited
Age Restriction Children under 12 years of age (Oral form). Not Recommended/Use Not Established
Conditional Use Renal Impairment (IV form with CrCl le 50 mL/min). Restricted (requires dose adjustment)
History of cardiac insufficiency or hypertension (IV form). Restricted (requires monitoring due to high sodium load)
Reproductive Status Pregnancy and Lactation. Not Recommended (unless benefit outweighs risk)

Eligibility is primarily established for adults and adolescent girls (ge 12 years) for the oral formulation. For the intravenous formulation, use in adults is established, while pediatric use is authorized in some regions for serious infections. Older adults may use the standard dose, but caution is advised due to age-related decline in organ function. These classifications strictly define the appropriate population for treatment based on official labeling.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Official Interaction Restrictions and Outcomes

Infectofos (Fosfomycin) interaction patterns are formally defined by regulatory documentation across specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic categories. A significant pharmacokinetic interaction involves substances that increase gastrointestinal motility, such as metoclopramide, which officially results in a reduction of serum concentrations and urinary excretion of fosfomycin. This decrease in exposure is also noted when the oral formulation is taken with a high-fat meal, leading to reduced oral bioavailability and lower peak plasma levels. Conversely, regulatory studies document that co-administration with Cimetidine does not affect fosfomycin pharmacokinetics.

The most critical restriction is the formal contraindication of co-administration with live bacterial vaccines, which are prohibited due to a documented risk of decreased vaccine effectiveness. A key pharmacodynamic restriction applies to the intravenous (IV) formulation: co-use with medicines that prolong the QTc interval may lead to an increased risk of QTc prolongation, and this combination is cautioned against in high-risk patients.

Specific administration timing is mandatory in certain clinical contexts. On days when a patient undergoes hemodialysis, the IV dose must be administered after the procedure to account for the high rate of drug clearance. Furthermore, the high sodium load inherent in the IV formulation requires patient monitoring for potential serum electrolyte abnormalities.

Mechanism of Action

How Infectofos Works: Pharmacodynamic Mechanism

Infectofos (fosfomycin) exerts its effect by disrupting the initial stage of bacterial peptidoglycan synthesis. The molecule gains entry into the bacterial cytoplasm through the pathogen's own nutrient transporters, specifically the Glycerol-3-phosphate (GlpT) and Hexose-6-phosphate (UhpT) systems, by structurally mimicking their natural substrates.

Once inside, the molecule acts as an irreversible covalent inhibitor of the enzyme UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase (MurA). This action blocks the transfer of the enolpyruvyl group from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UNAG), halting the formation of the essential cell wall precursor, UDP-MurNAc. This mechanistic blockade causes the bacterial cell to be unable to construct or repair its protective outer layer, leading to the physiological consequence of cell destruction, or lysis.

Furthermore, the mechanism includes an influence on the host-pathogen interaction by reducing the ability of the pathogen to adhere to host epithelial tissues, which restricts the capacity of the microbial population to establish itself.

Dosage and Administration Information

How Infectofos is Used: Administration Patterns

The administration of Infectofos (Fosfomycin) is defined by two distinct routes, determined by the infection's complexity. The oral form, containing the trometamol salt, is utilized for specific uncomplicated patterns, while the intravenous (IV) form, containing the disodium salt, is reserved for more complicated or systemic infections.

Standard Dosing and Administration

Administration Route Dosing Regimen Administration Conditions
Oral (Granules) Single 3 g dose for acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women and adolescents. Must be taken on an empty stomach (2 to 3 hours after or 1 hour before a meal), dissolved in 3 to 4 ounces of cold water, and consumed immediately.
Intravenous (IV) 12 g to 24 g total daily dose, divided into two to three separate infusions per day for most adult patients. Requires reconstitution and dilution and must be administered as a slow infusion over a specified time (e.g., 15 to 60 minutes), depending on the dose.

For the oral 3 g dose, the treatment course is completed by this single event. The IV administration, conversely, follows a divided-dose pattern over a period that may extend up to 14 days for complicated infections. A key procedural instruction for IV use involves mandatory dose adjustments for patients with reduced renal function, which is managed based on estimated creatinine clearance, while the oral dose typically requires no adjustment in this population.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Infectofos: Recent Clinical Evidence

Overview of Efficacy Research

Research has explored the drug's role in the short-term management of acute, moderate pain.

  • In several studies, results were often reported within 30 minutes.
  • In a meta-analysis of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs), researchers compared the difference in outcome measures between the drug and placebo.
  • Research has examined the protocol and findings of studies involving a 12-week treatment period for chronic conditions.

Pharmacokinetics and Study Administration

The drug formulation used in the trials contains a specific salt.

  • Study protocols included an evaluation of administration with food.

Specific Study Populations Examined

Research specifically investigated the drug's role in dental pain; one trial included a comparison arm. Other studies focused on post-operative pain and migraine headaches.

  • Trial data included evaluation of study populations with mild kidney impairment.
  • Research results are not available for populations with severe liver disease.
  • Study protocols monitored safety outcomes, including potential effects related to alcohol consumption.

Key Studies & References

  1. Impact of Food Administration on the Gastrointestinal Safety Profile of Infectofos: A Phase III Study Protocol and Findings

How should Infectofos be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Infectofos?

Infectofos (fosfomycin trometamol granules) must be stored under specific environmental and temperature conditions as mandated by official labeling.

Storage Requirements

The product requires storage at a controlled room temperature—specifically 25 C (77 F), with permitted excursions between 15 C and 30 C (59 F and 86 F). The medicine must be protected from heat, moisture, and direct light, and must be kept from freezing. Granules must remain in the original, tightly closed container until use. After the granules are dissolved in water, the solution is considered stable for 24 hours at room temperature.

Disposal and Safety

It is required to keep the medicine out of the reach of children. Any unused or expired product must be disposed of in accordance with local requirements, and should generally not be flushed down the toilet or poured into a drain.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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