From the Guidelines
The recommended intravenous (IV) dose of Cefuroxime is 1.5 g every 8 h. This dosage is based on the guidelines for the diagnosis and management of complicated intra-abdominal infection in adults and children, as outlined in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal 1.
Key Considerations
- The dosage is applicable for adults with normal renal and hepatic function.
- The guidelines provide a range of antibiotic dosages for empiric treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infection, including Cefuroxime.
- It is essential to note that dosage adjustments may be necessary for patients with renal impairment, but this information is not provided in the given study.
Antibiotic Dosage Comparison
- The study provides a comprehensive list of initial intravenous adult dosages of antibiotics for empiric treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infection, including:
- Cephalosporins: Cefazolin (1–2 g every 8 h), Cefepime (2 g every 8–12 h), Cefotaxime (1–2 g every 6–8 h), and Ceftriaxone (1–2 g every 12–24 h)
- Carbapenems: Doripenem (500 mg every 8 h), Ertapenem (1 g every 24 h), Imipenem/cilistatin (500 mg every 6 h or 1 g every 8 h), and Meropenem (1 g every 8 h)
- Fluoroquinolones: Ciprofloxacin (400 mg every 12 h), Levofloxacin (750 mg every 24 h), and Moxifloxacin (400 mg every 24 h)
Clinical Context
- Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis.
- It has good activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including some beta-lactamase producing strains, making it useful for respiratory, urinary tract, skin, and soft tissue infections.
- The IV formulation provides rapid therapeutic blood levels and is particularly valuable when oral administration is not feasible or when treating more severe infections.
From the FDA Drug Label
5 gram dose every 8 hours is recommended. In bone and joint infections, a 1. 5-gram dose every 8 hours is recommended. In life-threatening infections or infections due to less susceptible organisms, 1. 5 grams every 6 hours may be required. In bacterial meningitis, the dosage should not exceed 3 grams every 8 hours.
The recommended intravenous (IV) dose of Cefuroxime is:
- 5 grams every 8 hours for most infections
- 1.5 grams every 8 hours for bone and joint infections
- 1.5 grams every 6 hours for life-threatening infections or infections due to less susceptible organisms
- Not to exceed 3 grams every 8 hours for bacterial meningitis 2
From the Research
Recommended Intravenous (IV) Dose of Cefuroxime
The recommended IV dose of Cefuroxime varies depending on the specific condition being treated and the patient population.
- For healthy young volunteers, a dosage regimen of 750 mg every 12 hours is recommended for treating Streptococcus pneumoniae 3.
- For patients with severe renal insufficiency, a dose of 750 mg twice daily or 750 mg once daily is recommended, depending on the degree of renal impairment 4.
- In critically ill patients undergoing continuous venovenous hemofiltration, a maintenance dose of 3000 mg cefuroxime infused over 24 hours is predicted to provide an optimal steady-state plasma concentration 5.
- For infants and children with suspected bacterial pneumonia, a dose of 75 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours IV or IM is recommended 6.
Special Considerations
- The volume of distribution and clearance of cefuroxime may vary depending on the patient population and renal function 3, 4, 5.
- Cefuroxime has been shown to be safe and effective in various patient populations, including infants and children 6 and patients with severe renal insufficiency 4.
- Toxicological studies have demonstrated that cefuroxime is well-tolerated at high doses, with no serious toxic effects observed 7.