From the Guidelines
The recommended dose of Ceftin (ceftriaxone) for Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is 1-2 grams administered intravenously every 24 hours.
Key Considerations
- The dose and duration of therapy may vary depending on the severity of the infection, patient response, and presence of comorbidities.
- According to the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines 1, the duration of therapy for CAP should be at least 5 days, even if the patient has reached clinical stability before 5 days.
- For more severe cases of CAP, the duration of therapy may be extended to 7 days, especially if the infection is caused by suspected or proven MRSA or P. aeruginosa 1.
Pathogen-Specific Therapy
- Ceftriaxone is effective against many common respiratory pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.
- The susceptibility of S. pneumoniae isolates to ceftriaxone should be defined as an MIC of 1 mg/mL, intermediate as an MIC of 2 mg/mL, and resistant as an MIC of 4 mg/mL 1.
Treatment Recommendations
- Initial empiric therapy for CAP can be with a β-lactam plus macrolide combination or a respiratory fluoroquinolone alone 1.
- Once culture data are available, treatment can be tailored to the specific pathogen and its susceptibility pattern.
- Patients should complete the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms improve before the medication is finished to prevent antibiotic resistance and ensure complete eradication of the infection.
From the Research
Ceftin Dose for Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
- The recommended dose of Ceftin (ceftriaxone) for CAP is 1 g daily, as studies have shown that this dose is as safe and effective as other antibiotic regimens for community-acquired pneumonia 2.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that ceftriaxone dosages of 1 g daily are equivalent to other dosing regimens, with no improved clinical outcomes for doses higher than 1 g daily 2.
- Another study compared the efficacy and tolerability of ceftriaxone plus azithromycin with levofloxacin in the treatment of hospitalized patients with moderate to severe CAP, and found that both treatments were well tolerated and had favorable clinical outcomes 3.
- The combination of a third-generation cephalosporin (such as ceftriaxone) and a macrolide (such as azithromycin) is recommended as first-line therapy for hospitalized patients with moderate to severe CAP, as it is at least as efficacious as monotherapy with a fluoroquinolone 3, 4.
- The treatment duration for CAP is still under debate, but several studies support short durations of 5-7 days or less, and clinical criteria can be used to discontinue antibiotic treatment 5.
Dosage and Treatment Duration
- Ceftriaxone 1 g daily is a recommended dose for CAP, and can be combined with azithromycin for hospitalized patients with moderate to severe CAP 3, 4.
- The treatment duration for CAP can be shortened to 5-7 days or less, depending on the patient's response to treatment and clinical criteria 5.
Combination Therapy
- The combination of levofloxacin and ceftriaxone can be considered for therapeutic use in cases of pneumonia caused by drug-resistant isolates, as it has been shown to downregulate inflammation and promote bacterial clearance 6.