See Available Brands of Cefazolin in India

P - Caution when used during pregnancy
L - Caution when used during lactation
LI - Lab*

Cefazolin, also known as cefazoline or cephazolin, is a first generation cephalosporin antibiotic.
The drug is usually administrated either by intramuscular injection (injection into a large muscle) or intravenous infusion (intravenous fluid into a vein).

 Pharmacodynamics

 Pharmacokinetics

Cefazolin binds to one or more of the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) which inhibits the final transpeptidation step of peptidoglycan synthesis in bacterial cell wall, thus inhibiting biosynthesis and arresting cell wall assembly resulting in bacterial cell death.

Absorption: Poorly absorbed from the GI tract (oral).
Distribution: Bile (high concentrations); bone; ascitic, pleural and synovial fluids; CSF (small amounts). Crosses the placenta into the foetal circulation; enters the breast milk (low concentrations). Protein-binding: 85%
Excretion: Via the urine by glomerular filtration, with some renal tubular secretion (as unchanged); 80% of a dose within 24 hr (IM). Removed to some extent by haemodialysis.

Cefazolin Indications / Cefazolin Uses

Information Not Available

Cefazolin Adverse Reactions / Cefazolin Side Effects

Superinfection; nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhoea; rash, leukopenia, thrombocytopaenia, haemorrhage, elevated transaminases.
Potentially Fatal: Anaphylactic reaction; pseudomembranous colitis.

Precautions

Renal Function
Dosage adjustment may be needed.
Superinfection
May result in bacterial or fungal overgrowth of nonsusceptible microorganisms.
GI disease
Use with caution, especially in patients with history of colitis.
Prothrombin activity
May be decreased.
Pseudomembranous colitis
Consider in patients who develop diarrhea.

Special Precautions

Impaired renal function; pregnancy, lactation. Consider possibility of pseudomembranous colitis in patients who present with diarrhoea after antimicrobial usage. Risk of seizures in patients on high doses, especially in renally impaired patients. May decrease prothrombin activity; monitor prothrombin time in patients at risk e.g. those on anticoagulant treatment, prolonged antimicrobial treatment or those with renal or hepatic impairment.

Other Drug Interactions

Probenecid reduces tubular secretion of cefazolin thereby prolonging its half-life. Disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol.
Potentially Fatal: Concurrent use with furosemide and aminoglycosides increase risk of nephrotoxicity.

Other Interactions

Information Not Available

Dosage

Parenteral
Susceptible infections
Adult: As sodium: 0.5-1 g deep IM, slow IV Inj over 3-5 min or as iv infusion every 6-12 hr. Max: Up to 6-12 g daily for life-threatening infections.
Child: >1 mth: 25-50 mg/kg daily in 3 or 4 divided doses. Max: Up to 100 mg/kg daily for severe infections.
Renal impairment: Children: CrCl: 40-70 ml/min: 60% of normal daily dose given in 2 divided doses; 20-40 ml/min: 25% of normal daily dose given in 2 divided doses and 5-20 ml/min: 10% of normal daily dose every 24 hr. See table for adult dosing recommendations.

Parenteral
Surgical prophylaxis
Adult: As sodium: 1 g given 0.5-1 hr before surgery followed by 0.5-1 g during surgery for lengthy procedures; 0.5-1 g every 6-8 hrly may be given after surgery for 24 hr or up to 5 days.
Elderly:
Renal impairment: Children: CrCl: 40-70 ml/min: 60% of normal daily dose given in 2 divided doses; 20-40 ml/min: 25% of normal daily dose given in 2 divided doses and 5-20 ml/min: 10% of normal daily dose every 24 hr. See table for adult dosing recommendations.

Food(before/after)

Information Not Available

List of Contraindications

Cefazolin and Pregnancy

Caution when used during pregnancy.
Category B: Either animal-reproduction studies have not demonstrated a foetal risk but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women or animal-reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect (other than a decrease in fertility) that was not confirmed in controlled studies in women in the 1st trimester (and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters).

Cefazolin and Lactation

Caution when used during lactation

Cefazolin and Children

Safety and efficacy not established in children 1 month of age or younger

Cefazolin and Geriatic

Information Not Available

Cefazolin and Other Contraindications

Hypersensitivity

Storage

Parenteral: Store at 25°C

Lab interference

False-positive results for direct Coombs' test and urine sugar (Benedict's, Fehling's or other reagents but not with enzyme-based methods). Interferes with Jaffe method of measuring creatinine.