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CeFEPime Intravenous for Adults
Who can administer
May be administered by registered competent doctor or nurse/midwife
Important information
- Reserve antimicrobial: Restricted for indications in the antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, or following approval by microbiology/infectious diseases
- If documented immediate, or severe delayed hypersensitivity reaction to Penicillin: DO NOT GIVE THIS DRUG
- Unlicensed medicine: requires approval/endorsement by microbiology/infectious diseases
- Not routinely kept in stock- ordered on the instruction of Micro/ID only (ref 1)
- If patient is going home on this antibiotic, please contact pharmacy so that supplies can be arranged
Available preparations
Cefepime for Injection, USP 2g Sagent Pharmaceuticals, USA [UNLICENSED]
Cefepime for Injection, Maxipime (BMS)
Important: Also available in 1g upon request
Reconstitution
Add 10ml of a compatible intravenous fluid (listed below) to each 2g vial
Dilute further prior to administration
Infusion fluids
Sodium chloride 0.9%
Glucose 5%
Methods of intravenous administration
Slow intravenous injection (ref 2, BNF)
- Administer over at least 3 minutes
Intermittent intravenous infusion only (using an electronically controlled infusion device)
- Add to 50ml of infusion fluid and infuse over 30 minutes
- The residual volume in the infusion line must be flushed through at the same rate to avoid significant underdosing
Dose in adults
Usual Dose
- Usual dose:1 to 2g every 12 hours (dose range can be anything from 0.5 to 2g every 8 to 12 hours)
- Severe infections (e.g. febrile neutropenia, severe pseudomonas infection) 2g every eight hours has been used
- Dose varies according to indication, severity of infection and presence of renal impairment.
Dosage in renal impairment
- If creatinine clearance is less than 60ml/minute, the dose should be modified. Refer to attached SPC for further details.
Storage
- Store below 250C
- Do not refrigerate
References
Product Information (Cefepime for Injection, USP) Sagent Pharmaceuticals, USA. Revised June 2022
1: Email on file from Antimicrobial Stewardship team, 21st Feb 2019
2: Injectable drugs guide, Medusa, Downloaded 26th Jan 2023
Therapeutic classification
Cephalosporin antibiotic (fourth generation)