What is the recommended dose of Cefdinir (Cefdinir) for a 6-year-old patient weighing 57 pounds with normal renal function and no known allergies to cephalosporins (Cephalosporins)?

Cefdinir Dosing for a 6-Year-Old Weighing 57 Pounds

For this 6-year-old patient weighing 57 pounds (26 kg), administer cefdinir 7 mg/kg every 12 hours OR 14 mg/kg once daily, which translates to approximately 180 mg (3.6 mL of the 250 mg/5 mL suspension) twice daily OR 360 mg (7.2 mL) once daily, depending on the infection type. 1

Dosing Calculation and Administration

Weight-based dosing:

• Patient weight: 57 pounds = 26 kg
• Standard pediatric dose: 14 mg/kg/day total daily dose (maximum 600 mg/day) 1
• This can be given as:
  • 7 mg/kg every 12 hours = 182 mg twice daily 1
  • 14 mg/kg every 24 hours = 364 mg once daily 1

Using the 250 mg/5 mL suspension:

• For twice-daily dosing: approximately 3.6 mL every 12 hours 1
• For once-daily dosing: approximately 7.3 mL every 24 hours 1

Infection-Specific Considerations

The dosing schedule depends on the type of infection:

• Acute bacterial otitis media, acute maxillary sinusitis, or pharyngitis/tonsillitis: Either 7 mg/kg every 12 hours OR 14 mg/kg once daily for 5-10 days 1

• Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections: Must use 7 mg/kg every 12 hours (twice-daily dosing only) for 10 days, as once-daily dosing has not been studied for skin infections 1

Important Clinical Pearls

Administration details:

• Cefdinir may be given without regard to meals 1
• The suspension remains stable for 10 days after mixing at room temperature; shake well before each dose 1
• Once-daily dosing for 10 days is as effective as twice-daily dosing for respiratory infections 1

Efficacy and tolerability:

• Clinical cure rates in pediatric skin infections reach 98.3% with excellent microbiologic eradication 2
• Diarrhea is the most common adverse event, occurring in approximately 8% of pediatric patients 2
• Cefdinir demonstrates superior palatability compared to other oral antimicrobials, improving adherence 3, 4

Common Pitfall to Avoid

Do not use once-daily dosing for skin infections. The FDA label explicitly states that once-daily dosing has not been studied in skin infections, and twice-daily administration must be used for these conditions 1. For respiratory tract infections, either regimen is acceptable 1.