Formulary
Ceftazidime: 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 | 4 min read
Ceftazidime: 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
**Prophylaxis**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Injection, Or By Intravenous Infusion, Or By Deep Intramuscular Injection): for transurethral resection of prostate 1 g for 1 dose, dose to be administered up to 30 minutes before procedure, dose may be repeated if necessary when catheter removed.
**Pseudomonal lung infection in cystic fibrosis**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion, Or By Intravenous Injection, Or By Deep Intramuscular Injection): 100-150 mg/kg daily in 3 divided doses (max. per dose 3 g).
**Complicated urinary-tract infection**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Injection, Or By Intravenous Infusion, Or By Deep Intramuscular Injection): 1-2 g every 8-12 hours.
**Septicaemia,Hospital-acquired pneumonia**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion, Or By Intravenous Injection): 2 g every 8 hours.
**Febrile neutropenia**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion, Or By Intravenous Injection): 2 g every 8 hours.
**Meningitis**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion, Or By Intravenous Injection): 2 g every 8 hours.
**Susceptible infections due to sensitive Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion, Or By Intravenous Injection, Or By Deep Intramuscular Injection): 1-2 g every 8 hours.
**Pseudomonal lung infection in cystic fibrosis for ceftazidime**
- **Child** (By intravenous infusion, or by intravenous injection, or by deep intramuscular injection): 50 mg/kg every 8 hours (max. per dose 3 g).
**Febrile neutropenia for ceftazidime**
- **Child** (By intravenous infusion, or by intravenous injection): 50 mg/kg every 8 hours (max. per dose 2 g).
**Meningitis for ceftazidime**
- **Neonate up to 7 days** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 50 mg/kg every 24 hours.
- **Neonate 7 days to 20 days** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 50 mg/kg every 12 hours.
- **Neonate 21 days to 28 days** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 50 mg/kg every 8 hours.
- **Child** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 50 mg/kg every 8 hours (max. per dose 2 g).
**Susceptible infections due to sensitive Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria for ceftazidime**
- **Neonate up to 7 days** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 25 mg/kg every 24 hours.
- **Neonate 7 days to 20 days** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 25 mg/kg every 12 hours.
- **Neonate 21 days to 28 days** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 25 mg/kg every 8 hours.
- **Child** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 25 mg/kg every 8 hours (max. per dose 2 g).
**Severe susceptible infections due to sensitive Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria for ceftazidime**
- **Neonate up to 7 days** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 50 mg/kg every 24 hours.
- **Neonate 7 days to 20 days** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 50 mg/kg every 12 hours.
- **Neonate 21 days to 28 days** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 50 mg/kg every 8 hours.
- **Child** (By intravenous injection, or by intravenous infusion): 50 mg/kg every 8 hours (max. per dose 2 g).
**Chronic Burkholderia cepacia infection in cystic fibrosis for ceftazidime**
- **Child** (By inhalation of nebulised solution): 1 g twice daily.
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 ceftazidime Common or very common Thrombocytosis; thrombophlebitis Uncommon Antibiotic associated colitis; increased risk of infection Rare or very rare Acute kidney injury Frequency not known Coma; encephalopathy; jaundice; lymphocytosis; myoclonus; neurological effects; paraesthesia; seizure; taste altered; tremor
Pregnancy
Not known to be harmful.
Breast feeding
Present in milk in low concentration, but appropriate to use.
Hepatic impairment
Manufacturer advises caution in severe impairment (no information available).
Renal impairment
Use with caution. M Dose adjustments Reduce dose if creatinine clearance 50 mL/minute or less-consult product literature. M See Prescribing in renal impairment .
Medicinal forms
Solution
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.
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