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Product Name: Cefoxitin Sodium
Chemical Name: Sodium (6R,7S)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-8-oxo-7-[2-(2-thienyl)acetamido]-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylate
Synonyms: Mefoxin, Cefoxitin Disodium Salt
CAS Number: 33564-30-6
Intended Use: Pharmaceutical antibiotic for bacterial infection control
Manufacturer: Provided by leading pharmaceutical companies producing beta-lactam antibiotics
Emergency Contact: Local poison control center or healthcare provider
Recommended Restriction: Only for prescribed medical or laboratory research use
Physical Hazards: Not classified as explosive or flammable, but forms dust clouds that may ignite under rare conditions
Health Hazards: May cause allergic skin or respiratory reactions, risk of eye and skin irritation, may trigger severe allergic response in sensitized individuals, potential for gastrointestinal upset if ingested
Environmental Hazards: Harmful to aquatic organisms, avoid direct release into waterways
Label Elements: Exclamation mark for skin/eye/respiratory irritation, environment symbol for aquatic hazard
Other Risks: Accidental needle-stick injuries during injection pose risk for healthcare workers
Substance: Cefoxitin Sodium
Concentration: Pure active ingredient ranges above 98% in lyophilized powder
Excipients: May include sterile sodium chloride, seldom stabilizers to maintain shelf life
Impurities: Beta-lactam compounds at trace levels, regulated under pharmacopoeia standards
Molecular Formula: C16H16N3NaO7S2
Eye Contact: Flush eyes gently with large amounts of tepid water for at least 10 minutes, seek prompt medical attention
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water, obtain medical help for persistent irritation
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air immediately, monitor breathing, provide oxygen if breathing becomes difficult, seek medical attention
Ingestion: Rinse mouth thoroughly, never induce vomiting unless instructed by medical professional, transport to healthcare provider
Most Important Symptoms/Emergency Effects: Skin and respiratory hypersensitivity, rapid swelling in face and mouth may indicate anaphylactic reaction
Special Treatment: Administer epinephrine and supportive care for severe allergic response
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide, or alcohol-resistant foam for larger fires
Unsuitable Extinguishing Media: Direct water jets may spread fine powder contamination
Special Hazards: Decomposes under combustion to liberate irritating fumes such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides
Protective Equipment: Firefighters must use full protective suit, self-contained breathing apparatus
Extra Precautions: Avoid creating dust clouds, cool unopened containers with water spray
Personal Precautions: Wear gloves, lab coat, NIOSH-approved respirator, and eye protection during cleanup
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into drains or sewers, restrict access to area
Spill Containment: Carefully collect material using HEPA-filtered vacuum or damp disposable towels, avoid generating dust
Cleaning Up: Dispose of used cleaning material in labeled hazardous waste bag, ventilate area
Emergency Procedures: Notify safety officer or biohazard team as specified by local regulations
Handling Precautions: Limit airborne dust by using fume hood, handle with non-permeable gloves, avoid inhalation or skin contact
General Hygiene: Wash hands and face thoroughly after use, never eat or drink in work area
Storage Conditions: Store in tightly closed, light-protected containers below 25°C, keep dry and away from direct heat sources
Incompatibility: Avoid storage near strong acids, oxidizing agents, or bases, as degradation may occur
Special Handling: Secure access to authorized and trained personnel only
Engineering Controls: Conduct all powder manipulation inside chemical fume hood or with appropriate containment system
Personal Protective Equipment: Nitrile or latex gloves, lab coat, chemical splash goggles, and respirator where airborne dust present
Exposure Limits: No official occupational exposure limits established; minimize exposure to the lowest feasible level
Environmental Monitoring: Regularly check local ventilation and air filtration systems in areas with frequent handling
Special Measures: Wash contaminated clothing before reuse or dispose per biohazard waste protocols
Appearance: White to pale yellow, crystalline powder
Odor: Odorless to faint medicinal
pH: 4.2–7.0 (1% aqueous solution)
Melting Point: Decomposes above 175°C
Solubility: Highly soluble in water, slightly soluble in methanol, almost insoluble in chloroform
Partition Coefficient: Not listed due to ionic nature
Boiling Point: Not applicable as compound decomposes prior to boiling
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at room temperature
Stability in Light: Loses potency upon prolonged exposure to light
Flash Point: Not flammable in typical conditions
Chemical Stability: Chemically stable under normal temperature and moisture-free storage, solution form degrades within 24 hours at room temperature
Hazardous Decomposition: Releases sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other irritating gases if exposed to fire or strong oxidizing conditions
Reactivity: Rapidly hydrolyzed by diluted acids and alkaline conditions
Incompatible Materials: Avoid strong oxidizers, acids, and bases, which accelerate breakdown and may generate hazardous byproducts
Polymerization: Does not undergo hazardous polymerization
Acute Toxicity: LD50 (oral, rat): over 5000 mg/kg, indicating low acute oral toxicity
Chronic Effects: Extended high-dose exposure may cause liver and kidney function alteration
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, dermal, or injection
Symptoms: Allergic skin reactions, rare anaphylactic shock, transient nausea or diarrhea
Sensitization: Documented risk of hypersensitivity in individuals previously sensitized to beta-lactam antibiotics
Carcinogenicity: No evidence of carcinogenicity in animal studies or human use
Mutagenicity: No genetic mutations reported in standard assays
Reproductive Toxicity: No documented reproductive harm in humans or animal models
Ecotoxicity: Harmful to aquatic invertebrates and may disrupt microbial activity at low concentrations
Persistence and Degradability: Moderately persistent, hydrolyzes in water over days, but breakdown products may persist
Bioaccumulation: Compound and fragments have low bioaccumulation potential
Mobility in Soil: Freely dissolves and migrates in moist soils, may reach groundwater quickly in large releases
Other Adverse Effects: Excessive levels in treated wastewater may interfere with biological treatment plants
Waste Treatment Methods: Incinerate under controlled conditions in a chemical waste facility
Container Disposal: Dispose of empty containers in compliance with local hazardous pharmaceutical waste rules
Environmental Precautions: Do not flush into sewer, surface water, or soil
Special Instructions: Decontaminate surfaces with detergent solution, collect rinsates as hazardous waste
Regulatory Considerations: Subject to state, federal, and international restrictions for antibiotic compounds
UN Number: Not classified as a regulated substance for ground, sea, or air transport under UN recommendations
Proper Shipping Name: Pharmaceutical product, not otherwise specified
Transport Hazard Class: Not a hazardous material under standard DOT, IATA, or IMDG rules
Packing Group: None assigned
Special Transport Precautions: Keep containers sealed, avoid breakage during movement, secure against moisture
Environmental Hazards During Transport: Accidental release could lead to contamination of water supplies
U.S. Regulations: Not listed on TSCA inventory, regulated as a prescription pharmaceutical under FDA guidelines
European Union: Classified under medical product regulations, not hazardous per CLP Regulation but subject to REACH for environmental assessment
Canada: Listed as prescription drug, covered under WHMIS as bioactive pharmaceutical agent
International Standards: Covered by conventions related to pharmaceuticals, subject to export-import and environmental safety controls
SARA/OSHA Reporting: Not subject to Section 313 reporting, not listed as carcinogen or reproductive hazard
Product Labeling: Must reflect prescription status, health risks, emergency first aid instructions, and safe handling practices
