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)