II. Indications
- Conditions
- Skin and Soft Tissue Infection (and penetrates bone)
- Streptococcal Pharyngitis
- Simple Urinary Tract Infections (Acute Cystitis)
- Not indicated for Otitis Media (inadequate coverage due to resistance)
- No significant CSF penetration
- Activity Spectrum
- Effective alternative to Penicillins
- Covers Gram Positive Cocci
- Covers some Gram Negative Bacilli (least coverage of the Cephalosporins)
- Good Gram Positive Cocci Coverage
- Modest EKP Gram Negative Bacteria covered
III. Contraindications: Relative
- MRSA
- Enterococcus
- Enterobacter
- Proteus Vulgaris
- Morganella marganii
- Pseudomonas
- Acinebacter calcoaceticus
IV. Medications: Oral
- Directions
- May take with or without food
-
Cephalexin (Keflex)
- Adult: 250 to 500 mg orally 4 times daily
- Child: 25 to 50 mg/kg/day orally divided 4 times daily
-
Cefadroxil (Duricef)
- Generic, and similar efficacy to Cephalexin, with the ease of twice daily dosing instead of four times daily
- Adult: 1 to 2 grams/day orally divided once to twice daily
- Child: 30 mg/kg/day orally divided twice daily
V. Medications: Parenteral - Cefazolin (Ancef)
- Adult: 0.5 to 1.5 grams IM or IV every 6-8 hours
- Child
- Standard: 25 to 50 mg/kg/day divided q6-8 hours
- Severe Infection: 100 mg/kg/day divided q6-8 hours
- Maximum: 2 grams per dose