Recommended Frequency for Intravenous Augmentin (Amoxicillin-Clavulanate) Administration
The standard recommended frequency for intravenous Augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanate) administration is every 6-8 hours, with dosing typically administered every 8 hours (three times daily) for most infections. 1, 2
Adult Dosing
- Standard IV dosing for adults is 1.2g (1g amoxicillin plus 200mg clavulanic acid) every 8 hours 2
- For more severe infections or when targeting resistant organisms, dosing may be increased to every 6 hours 1
- For surgical prophylaxis, intraoperative redosing should occur every 2-4 hours 1
- Postoperative dosing typically continues every 6-8 hours when indicated 1
Pediatric Dosing
- For children, IV Augmentin is typically administered in 3-4 divided doses per day 3
- Dosage range for children is typically 100-200 mg/kg/day divided into 3-4 doses 3
- For specific infections like UTIs in infants 8-21 days old, ampicillin may be administered every 8 hours 1
Special Considerations
- For surgical prophylaxis, several regimens have been studied:
- Ultrashort-term: Single 1.2g IV dose with initial anesthesia
- Short-term: 1.2g IV with initial anesthesia followed by 600mg IV at 8 and 16 hours
- Middle-term: 1.2g IV with initial anesthesia followed by 600mg IV every 8 hours for 2 days
- Long-term: 1.2g IV with initial anesthesia followed by 600mg IV every 8 hours for 3 days 4
Clinical Pearls
- For severe infections, a higher initial loading dose (1.2g) followed by maintenance doses (600mg) every 8 hours is often recommended 4
- Duration of IV therapy typically ranges from 3-10 days depending on infection severity, with transition to oral therapy when clinically appropriate 2
- Local tolerance is generally excellent with few side effects when administered at the recommended frequency 2
- For patients with renal impairment, dosing frequency may need to be adjusted based on creatinine clearance 1
Potential Pitfalls
- Administering doses too infrequently (beyond 8 hours) may lead to subtherapeutic levels and treatment failure 2
- Too frequent administration (more than every 6 hours) without indication may increase risk of adverse effects without additional clinical benefit 4
- Failure to adjust dosing in renal impairment can lead to drug accumulation and toxicity 1
Remember that while every 8 hours is the standard frequency for most indications, the specific clinical situation, severity of infection, and patient factors may warrant adjustments to this schedule.