What should be checked before administering third-generation cephalosporins?

Before administering third-generation cephalosporins, it's crucial to check for penicillin (PCN) allergies. This is because there is a structural similarity between penicillins and cephalosporins, which can lead to cross-reactivity in individuals with a known allergy to penicillin. If a patient has a history of severe allergic reactions to penicillin, they may also react unfavorably to cephalosporins, potentially resulting in serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis. Therefore, assessing the patient’s allergy history, particularly regarding penicillin, is a key safety measure to prevent adverse drug reactions when prescribing third-generation cephalosporins.

Checking cholesterol levels, liver function, or kidney function may be important for other contexts in medicine but are not specifically required when administering third-generation cephalosporins. These factors do not have a direct correlation with the effectiveness or safety of cephalosporins, making them less critical to verify in the immediate context of antibiotic administration. While kidney function monitoring is necessary for dosage adjustments of many medications, it is the penicillin allergy that is a primary concern with cephalosporin use.