Who can administer
May be administered by registered competent doctor or nurse/midwife
Important information
- If documented immediate, or severe delayed hypersensitivity reaction to penicillin - DO NOT GIVE THIS DRUG
- See under 'Dose' for adjustments required in renal impairment
- Reserve antimicrobial: Restricted to indications in the antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, or following approval by microbiology/infectious diseases
Available preparations
Cefotaxime 500mg vial (Wockhardt)
Cefotaxime 1g vial (Claforan)
Reconstitution
Water for injection
2ml per 500mg vial
4ml per 1g vial
Infusion fluids
Sodium chloride 0.9% or Glucose 5%
Methods of intravenous administration
Slow intravenous injection
- Administer over 3 to 5 minutes
- Note: potentially life-threatening arrhythmia has been reported in a very few patients who received rapid intravenous administration of cefotaxime through a central venous catheter
Intermittent intravenous infusion
- Add required dose to 100ml infusion fluid and administer over 20 to 60 minutes
- A 50ml infusion may be used if required (eg fluid restriction) but the residual volume in the infusion line must be flushed through at the same rate to avoid significant underdosing
Dose in adults
Mild to moderate infections
- Give 1g every twelve hours
Severe infections
- Dosage may be increased up to 12g daily, given in three to four divided doses
Renal Impairment (no dosage adjustment is needed unless eGFR less than 5ml/minute/1.73m2) (ref 1)
| eGFR (ml/min/1.73m2) |
Dose |
Frequency |
| Greater than 5 |
Usual dose |
| Less than 5 |
Reduce dose by 50% |
Keep frequency the same
For severe/life-threatening contact Micro/ID
Reduce dose further if concurrent hepatic and renal failure.
|
Storage
References
Claforan SPC August 2016 September 2017
Wockhardt SPC September 2017
1: GUH antimicrobial guidelines Accessed online Jan 2022
Therapeutic classification
Cephalosporin antibiotic
