Cefdinir Dosing for a 10-Year-Old Pediatric Patient (90 pounds)
For this 10-year-old patient weighing 90 pounds (approximately 41 kg), administer cefdinir 250mg/5ml oral suspension at a dose of 5 mL twice daily (every 12 hours) or 10 mL once daily, depending on the infection being treated. 1
Weight-Based Dosing Calculation
- Patient weight: 90 pounds = approximately 41 kg
- Standard pediatric dosing: The total daily dose for all infections in pediatric patients is 14 mg/kg, up to a maximum of 600 mg per day 1
- Calculated daily dose: 14 mg/kg × 41 kg = 574 mg/day (below the 600 mg maximum) 1
Specific Volume Administration Using 250mg/5mL Suspension
According to the FDA-approved dosing chart for pediatric patients, children weighing between 36-43 kg should receive: 1
- Twice-daily regimen: 5 mL every 12 hours (7 mg/kg q12h)
- Once-daily regimen: 10 mL every 24 hours (14 mg/kg q24h)
Infection-Specific Dosing Schedules
The choice between once-daily versus twice-daily dosing depends on the specific infection: 1
- Acute bacterial otitis media: Either 5 mL q12h for 5-10 days OR 10 mL q24h for 10 days 1
- Acute maxillary sinusitis: Either 5 mL q12h for 10 days OR 10 mL q24h for 10 days 1
- Pharyngitis/tonsillitis: Either 5 mL q12h for 5-10 days OR 10 mL q24h for 10 days 1
- Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections: 5 mL q12h for 10 days (once-daily dosing has NOT been studied for skin infections) 1
Important Clinical Considerations
Once-daily dosing is contraindicated for skin infections because it has not been adequately studied in this indication; always use twice-daily dosing (5 mL q12h) for cutaneous infections. 1
Food administration: Cefdinir oral suspension may be administered without regard to meals, providing flexibility in dosing schedules. 1
Storage and stability: After mixing, the suspension can be stored at room temperature (25°C/77°F) in a tightly closed container and must be shaken well before each administration. The suspension expires 10 days after mixing, and any unused portion must be discarded. 1
Clinical Efficacy Evidence
Cefdinir at 14 mg/kg/day in one or two daily doses has demonstrated good clinical and bacteriological efficacy equivalent to other oral agents in treating community-acquired respiratory tract infections and uncomplicated skin infections in pediatric patients. 2 The drug provides excellent coverage against common respiratory pathogens including Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae, with stability against beta-lactamase-producing strains. 3
Palatability advantage: The oral suspension has shown superior taste and palatability compared to other oral antimicrobial agents, which may improve adherence in pediatric patients. 2, 3