Community data Updated 23 hours ago

Cefazolin Sodium

First generation cephalosporins Prescription

Indications

Cefazol is used to treat serious infections caused by susceptible organisms. These include respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin and skin structure infections, biliary tract infections, bone and joint infections, and genital infections. It is also used for septicemia and endocarditis, and as perioperative prophylaxis.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Cefazolin is a 1st generation broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic, and it is given parenterally (by injection). It blocks the transpeptidase enzyme, and this interferes with the way bacteria build their cell wall. The wall becomes weak, so the bacterial cell swells and then ruptures.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Cefazolin is Pregnancy Category B. It passes into the milk of nursing mothers, but only in very low concentrations. Even so, caution should be exercised when Cefazolin is given to a nursing woman.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: Adults with moderate to severe infection take Cefazolin Sodium 500 mg to 1 gm every 6 to 8 hours. For mild infections caused by susceptible Gram-positive cocci, the dose is 250 mg to 500 mg every 8 hours. Acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections need 1 gm every 12 hours, and pneumococcal pneumonia needs 500 mg every 12 hours. In severe life-threatening infections (e.g. Endocarditis, Septicemia), the dose is 1 gm to 1.5 gm every 6 hours, and in rare instances doses up to 12 gm per day can be used. For perioperative prophylaxis, the aim is to prevent postoperative infection in contaminated or potentially contaminated surgery. The recommended dose is 1 gm IM or IV, given half hour to 1 hour before the surgery starts. If the operation is lengthy (e.g. 2 hours or more), give 500 mg to 1 gm IM or IV during the surgery. After the operation, give 500 mg to 1 gm IM or IV every 6 to 8 hours for 24 hours. Where an infection could be particularly devastating (e.g. open-heart surgery and prosthetic arthroplasty), the prophylactic doses may be continued for 3 to 5 days after the surgery is completed.