Formulary
Cefazolin: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Cephalosporins are antibacterials that attach to penicillin binding proteins to interrupt cell wall biosynthesis, leading to bacterial cell lysis and death.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Cefazolin: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Cephalosporins are antibacterials that attach to penicillin binding proteins to interrupt cell wall biosynthesis, leading to bacterial cell lysis and death.
Drug action
Cephalosporins are antibacterials that attach to penicillin binding proteins to interrupt cell wall biosynthesis, leading to bacterial cell lysis and death.
Indications and dose
**Surgical prophylaxis**
- **Adult** (By Slow Intravenous Injection, Or By Intravenous Infusion, Or By Deep Intramuscular Injection): 1 g for 1 dose, to be administered 30-60 minutes before surgery, then 0.5-1 g, to be administered if required during surgery (in procedures lasting 2 hours or more).
**Skin infection,Soft tissue infection,Bone infection,Joint infection**
- **Adult** (By Slow Intravenous Injection, Or By Intravenous Infusion, Or By Deep Intramuscular Injection): 1-2 g daily in 2-3 divided doses, to be used for sensitive bacteria; increased to 3-4 g daily in 3-4 divided doses, to be used for moderately-sensitive bacteria, single doses greater than 1 g should be given by intravenous infusion; increased if necessary up to 6 g daily in 3-4 divided doses, to be used for severe infections, single doses greater than 1 g should be given by intravenous infusion.
**Surgical prophylaxis for cefazolin**
- **Child 12-17 years (body-weight 40 kg and above)** (By slow intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion, or by deep intramuscular injection): 1 g for 1 dose, to be administered 30-60 minutes before surgery, then 0.5-1 g, to be administered if required during surgery (in procedures lasting 2 hours or more).
**Skin infection, Soft tissue infection, Bone infection, Joint infection for cefazolin**
- **Child (body-weight up to 40 kg)** (By slow intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion, or by deep intramuscular injection): 25-50 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses, to be used for sensitive bacteria; increased if necessary up to 100 mg/kg daily in 3-4 divided doses, to be used for moderately-sensitive bacteria, single doses greater than 1 g should be given by intravenous infusion.
- **Child 12-17 years (body-weight 40 kg and above)** (By slow intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion, or by deep intramuscular injection): 1-2 g daily in 2-3 divided doses, to be used for sensitive bacteria; increased to 3-4 g daily in 3-4 divided doses, to be used for moderately-sensitive bacteria, single doses greater than 1 g should be given by intravenous infusion; increased if necessary up to 6 g daily in 3-4 divided doses, to be used for severe infections, single doses greater than 1 g should be given by intravenous infusion.
Side effects
Common or very common Abdominal pain; diarrhoea; dizziness; eosinophilia; headache; leucopenia; nausea; neutropenia; pseudomembranous enterocolitis; skin reactions; thrombocytopenia; vomiting Uncommon Anaphylactic reaction; angioedema Rare or very rare Agranulocytosis; haemolytic anaemia; nephritis tubulointerstitial (reversible); severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) Side-effects For cefazolin Common or very common Appetite decreased Uncommon Drug fever; interstitial lung disease; oral candidiasis (particularly in long term use); seizure (in renal impairment); thrombophlebitis Rare or very rare Akathisia; anaemia; anal pruritus; anxiety; asthenia; bone marrow disorders; chest pain; coagulation disorder; colour vision change; confusion; cough; drowsiness; dyspnoea; epileptogenic activity; face oedema; genital pruritus; hepatitis (transient); hot flush; hyperglycaemia; hypersensitivity; hypoglycaemia; increased leucocytes; increased risk of infection; jaundice cholestatic (transient); lymphopenia; malaise; nephropathy; proteinuria; respiratory disorders; sleep disorders; tongue swelling; vertigo Side-effects, further information Blood disorders including: leucopenia, granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, eosinophillia and increased leucocytes are reversible.
Interactions
**Severe interactions:**
- The concomitant use of rifampicin with other antibiotics causing vitamin K dependent coagulopathy such as cefazolin (or other cephalosporins with N-methyl-thiotetrazole side chain) should be avoided...
Pregnancy
Manufacturer advises avoid unless essential-limited data available but not known to harmful in animal studies. Specialist sources indicate suitable for use in pregnancy. D
Breast feeding
Present in milk in low concentration, but appropriate to use.
Renal impairment
Prescribing in renal impairment . Manufacturer advises caution if creatinine clearance 54 mL/minute or less, or serum creatinine 1.6 mg/dL or above (increased risk of convulsions). Dose adjustments Manufacturer advises dose reduction in impairment-consult product literature.
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
Inside MedNext for this topic
- 411 MedNext-authored chapters
- 80,000+ MCQ bank
- 15 study modes
- Growing visual cheat sheets
Study modes
- Notes
- MCQ
- Audio
- Video
- Visual
- 3D Anatomy
- Trace
- Flashcards
- Mnemonics
- Image Bank
- Clinical
- Microscopy
- Audio QBank
- Cadaver
- Book Match
Continue reading
Subject HubPharmacology Hub
All pharmacology resources in one place.
Drug SchedulesIndian Drug Schedules
Schedule H, H1, X and G classifications.
FormularyBrowse all drugs
Search 1,850+ drug profiles.
Study Cefazolin in the MedNext app
Challenge yourself with targeted pharmacology MCQs on this drug class. Every explanation links back to the chapter that teaches the concept.
Start drug challengeExplore the full formulary