From the Guidelines
The recommended dose of Cefdinir for treating bacterial infections is 7 mg/kg twice daily or 14 mg/kg once daily for children, and 300 mg twice daily or 600 mg once daily for adults, with the duration ranging from 5-10 days based on the infection type. When considering the treatment of bacterial infections with Cefdinir, it's crucial to take into account the patient's age, the type and severity of the infection, and any potential kidney impairment [@8@]. For children aged 6 months and older, the dosage is typically 7 mg/kg twice daily or 14 mg/kg once daily, up to the adult maximum dose, with the treatment duration also depending on the specific infection being treated [@8@]. In adults and adolescents, the standard dose is 300 mg twice daily or 600 mg once daily for 5-10 days, depending on the infection type [@8@]. It's also important to note that Cefdinir should be taken with or without food, but high-iron foods and antacids should be avoided within 2 hours of taking the medication as they can reduce absorption [@8@]. Patients with kidney impairment (creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min) require dose adjustment to 300 mg once daily [@8@]. Cefdinir is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, making it effective against many common respiratory, skin, and urinary tract infections [@8@]. Some key points to consider when prescribing Cefdinir include:
- The importance of completing the full prescribed course even if symptoms improve before finishing the medication
- Monitoring for common side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, and headache
- Adjusting the dose in patients with kidney impairment
- Avoiding high-iron foods and antacids within 2 hours of taking the medication. Given the most recent and highest quality study available [@8@], the 5-day treatment course with Cefdinir is likely sufficient for many bacterial infections, with a low risk of inadequate clinical response.
From the FDA Drug Label
The recommended dosage and duration of treatment for infections in pediatric patients are described in the following chart; the total daily dose for all infections is 14 mg/kg, up to a maximum dose of 600 mg per day.
Pediatric Patients (Age 6 Months Through 12 Years) Type of Infection Dosage Duration Acute Bacterial Otitis Media 7 mg/kg q12h or 14 mg/kg q24h 5 to 10 days 10 days Acute Maxillary Sinusitis 7 mg/kg q12h or 14 mg/kg q24h 10 days 10 days Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis 7 mg/kg q12h or 14 mg/kg q24h 5 to 10 days 10 days Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections 7 mg/kg q12h 10 days
The recommended dose of Cefdinir for treating bacterial infections is:
- 14 mg/kg per day, up to a maximum dose of 600 mg per day, for pediatric patients.
- 7 mg/kg q12h or 14 mg/kg q24h for specific infections, such as acute bacterial otitis media, acute maxillary sinusitis, and pharyngitis/tonsillitis.
- 7 mg/kg q12h for uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections. For adult patients with creatinine clearance <30 mL/min, the dose of Cefdinir should be 300 mg given once daily 1.
From the Research
Cefdinir Dose for Treating Bacterial Infections
The recommended dose of Cefdinir for treating bacterial infections is as follows:
- For adults and adolescents, the dose is 300 mg twice daily or 600 mg once daily 2, 3, 4
- For pediatric patients, the dose is 14 mg/kg/day in one or two daily doses 2
- The treatment duration is typically 5 or 10 days, depending on the type and severity of the infection 2, 4, 5, 6
Specific Infections and Doses
- For community-acquired pneumonia, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, acute otitis media, pharyngitis, and uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections, the dose is 300 mg twice daily or 600 mg once daily for adults and adolescents 2, 3, 4
- For pediatric patients with acute otitis media, the dose is 7 mg/kg of body weight twice a day 6
- For pediatric patients with skin infections, the dose is 7 mg/kg of body weight twice a day 6