From the FDA Drug Label
Acute, uncomplicated urinary tract infections 1 gram every 12 hours The recommended dose and frequency of cefazolin for an uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) is 1 gram every 12 hours 1.
- Dose: 1 gram
- Frequency: every 12 hours
From the Research
For an uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI), cefazolin is not typically the first-line antibiotic choice, but when used, the recommended dose is 1 gram administered intravenously every 8 hours for 7-10 days, as supported by 2. However, cefazolin is primarily used for parenteral (IV) therapy and is more commonly prescribed for complicated UTIs, pyelonephritis, or in hospitalized patients rather than for uncomplicated UTIs. Some key points to consider:
- Cefazolin works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, making it effective against many gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria commonly causing UTIs.
- For uncomplicated UTIs, oral antibiotics like nitrofurantoin (100 mg twice daily for 5 days), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (160/800 mg twice daily for 3 days), or fosfomycin (3 gram single dose) are generally preferred due to their effectiveness, convenience, and ability to be taken at home.
- If cefazolin is being considered, it's essential to ensure the causative organism is susceptible through urine culture and sensitivity testing, as resistance patterns vary by region and patient history, as noted in 2.
- A recent study 2 found that cefazolin exhibits high susceptibility for uropathogens commonly implicated in cases of uncomplicated UTI, although ceftriaxone shows a higher susceptibility rate against these common uropathogens, it more than doubles the risk for hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection compared with cefazolin. The choice of antibiotic should always prioritize the most recent and highest quality evidence, focusing on minimizing morbidity, mortality, and improving quality of life, as seen in the comparison between cefazolin and other antibiotics in 2.