Cefuroxime Administration Safety
Cefuroxime can be safely administered as an antibiotic prophylaxis for various surgical procedures, with specific dosing recommendations based on the type of surgery. 1
Recommended Dosing
Cefuroxime is commonly used as surgical antibiotic prophylaxis with the following dosing guidelines:
- Standard surgical prophylaxis: 1.5g IV administered slowly as a single dose
- Re-injection needed: If surgery duration exceeds 2 hours, reinject 0.75g 1
- Bariatric surgery: Higher dose of 3g (30 min infusion) with reinjection of 1.5g if duration exceeds 2 hours 1
Specific Surgical Applications
Cefuroxime is indicated for prophylaxis in various surgical procedures:
- Gynecological procedures: 1.5g IV for hysterectomy and coeliosurgery 1
- Caesarean section: 1.5g IV as a single dose 1
- Bariatric surgery: 3g IV for gastric band procedures 1
- Ophthalmic surgery: 1 mg in 0.1 mL as intracameral injection for cataract surgery 1
Safety Profile
Cefuroxime has a well-established safety profile:
- Spectrum of activity: Effective against common respiratory pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis 2
- Adverse events: Generally mild and transient, primarily gastrointestinal disturbances 2
- Advantages: Lower incidence of diarrhea compared to some other cephalosporins 3
Important Considerations
- Duration: Antibiotic prophylaxis should be limited to a single dose in most cases 1
- Timing: Administration should occur 30-60 minutes before surgical incision 4
- Allergies: For patients with beta-lactam allergies, alternative agents such as clindamycin (900 mg IV) or vancomycin (30 mg/kg/120 min) should be considered 1
- Extended use: Continuing antibiotics beyond recommended duration increases resistance risk without additional benefit 4
Therapeutic Applications
Beyond surgical prophylaxis, cefuroxime is indicated for treatment of:
- Lower respiratory tract infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Skin and skin-structure infections
- Septicemia
- Meningitis
- Bone and joint infections 5
When administering cefuroxime, ensure proper timing before incision and appropriate redosing for prolonged procedures to maintain adequate tissue concentrations throughout the surgical procedure.