10/28/2018 Claforan (cefotaxime) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more

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cefotaxime (Rx)
Brand and Other Names: Claforan
Classes: Cephalosporins, 3rd Generation

Dosing & Uses

Adult Pediatric

Dosage Forms & Strengths

injectable solution

20mg/mL
40mg/mL

powder for injection

500mg
1g
2g
10g

Gonococcal Urethritis/Cervicitis

0.5 g IM once

Gonorrhea, Rectal
Men: 1 g IM once

Women: 0.5 g IM once

Infections Caused by Susceptible Organisms

Uncomplicated: 1 g IV or IM q12hr

Moderate to severe: 1-2 g IV or IM q8hr

More serious (bloodstream infection [septicemia]): 2 g IV q6-8hr

Life-threatening: 2 g IV q4hr; not to exceed 12 g/day

Preparation for Surgery

Prophylaxis of surgical infection

1 g IM/IV once 30-90 minutes before start of procedure

Dosing Considerations
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10/28/2018 Claforan (cefotaxime) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more

Susceptible organisms

Bacteroides spp, Citrobacter spp, Clostridium spp, Enterobacter spp, Escherichia coli,
Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella spp, Moraxella catarrhalis, Morganella morganii,
Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis, Peptococcus spp, Peptostreptococcus spp,
Proteus mirabilis, Providencia rettgeri, Pseudomonas spp, Serratia spp, Staphylococcus
aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes

Dosage Forms & Strengths

injectable solution

20mg/mL
40mg/mL

powder for injection

500mg
1g
2g
10g

Infections Caused by Susceptible Organisms

<12 years or <50 kg: 50-200 mg/kg/day IV/IM divided q6-8hr

>12 years or >50 kg: 1-2 g IV/IM q8hr

Epiglottitis
<12 years or <50 kg: 150-200 mg/kg/day IV/IM divided q6hr plus clindamycin for 7-10 days

>12 years or >50 kg: 1-2 g IV/IM q8hr

Meningitis

<12 years or <50 kg: 200 mg/kg/day IV/IM divided q6hr

>12 years or >50 kg: 2 g IV q4-6hr in combination with other antimicrobial therapy as necessary

Pneumonia

<12 years or <50 kg: 200 mg/kg/day IV divided q8hr

>12 years or >50 kg: 1-2 g IV/IM q8hr

Sepsis

<12 years or <50 kg: 150 mg/kg/day IV divided q8hr

>12 years or >50 kg: 2 g IV q6-8hr

Typhoid Fever

<12 years or <50 kg: 150-200 mg/kg/day IV/IM divided q6-8hr; not to exceed 12 g/day

Fluoroquinolone resistant: 80 mg/kg/day IV/IM divided q6-8hr; not to exceed 12 g/day

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10/28/2018 Claforan (cefotaxime) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more

>12 years or >50 kg: 1-2 g IV/IM q4-8hr

Dosing Considerations
Usual dosage range in children

0-1 week: 50 mg/kg IV q12hr

1-4 weeks: 50 mg/kg IV q8hr
1 month-12 years: 50-180 mg/kg/day IV divided q4-6hr
>12 years: 1-2 g IV/IM q4-8hr

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