Cefuroxime (Ceftin) Dosing for Urinary Tract Infections
For urinary tract infections, the recommended dose of Cefuroxime (Ceftin) is 750 mg administered every 8 hours intravenously for 5-10 days in uncomplicated UTIs. 1
Dosing Recommendations
Intravenous (IV) Administration
- Uncomplicated UTIs: 750 mg every 8 hours 1
- Severe or complicated UTIs: 1.5 grams every 8 hours 1
- Typical treatment duration: 5-10 days 1
Oral Administration (Cefuroxime Axetil)
- For most UTIs: 250 mg twice daily 2
- For some uncomplicated UTIs: 125 mg twice daily may be effective 2
- For more severe infections: 500 mg twice daily 2
Dosage Adjustment for Renal Impairment
Cefuroxime requires dose adjustment based on creatinine clearance:
- CrCl >20 mL/min: Standard dose (750 mg - 1.5 grams) every 8 hours
- CrCl 10-20 mL/min: 750 mg every 12 hours
- CrCl <10 mL/min: 750 mg every 24 hours (additional dose after hemodialysis) 1
Clinical Considerations
Treatment Selection
While cefuroxime is effective for UTIs, it's important to note that first-line treatment options for uncomplicated UTIs include:
- Nitrofurantoin
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
- Fosfomycin 3
Beta-lactams like cefuroxime are generally considered alternative agents rather than first-line therapy for uncomplicated UTIs due to potentially inferior efficacy or more adverse effects 3.
Treatment Duration
- Continue treatment for a minimum of 48-72 hours after the patient becomes asymptomatic
- For chronic UTIs, frequent clinical and bacteriological assessment is necessary and may require several months of follow-up 1
Special Populations
- Pediatric patients (>3 months): 50-100 mg/kg/day divided every 6-8 hours
- Severe pediatric infections: 100 mg/kg/day (not exceeding maximum adult dosage) 1
Monitoring
- No routine laboratory monitoring is required for short-course therapy 3
- For chronic UTIs, regular bacteriological and clinical assessment is recommended 1
Common Side Effects
- Gastrointestinal disturbances (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting) 2
- When using oral cefuroxime axetil, dividing the daily dose into two administrations may reduce gastrointestinal adverse effects compared to once-daily dosing 4
Clinical Pearl
A study has shown that a single daily dose of 250 mg cefuroxime axetil for 10 days can be effective for acute uncomplicated UTIs, with 95% of patients having clear urine during treatment and an overall cure rate of 86% 5. However, the standard twice-daily dosing is more commonly recommended and supported by the drug label.