Spectrum: Local Antimicrobial Stewardship, for Alberta Children's Hospital

Cefotaxime

C. diff Risk

High

Oral Bioavailability

NA

Approximate Cost

$30/day

Spectrum Of Activity

General Spectrum of Activity

Spectrum Of Activity

Dosing

Renal

Renally cleared, requires dosage adjustment with changes in renal function. Consult a pharmacist for renal dosing.

Neonatal

General Pediatric

Max: 2g/dose, 12g/day

Meningitis: IV/IM 200-300mg/kg/DAY divided q6h

IV/IM 100-200mg/kg/DAY divided q6-8h

General Information

Common Usage

Common Usage

Empiric therapy for bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, intra-abdominal infection including SBP, musculoskeletal i.e. septic arthritis, and urinary tract infection.

Adverse Effects

Adverse Effects

Rash, localized phlebitis at injection site, allergy.

Positive Coombs test, neutropenia, diarrhea.

Additional Information

Additional Information

Preferred cephalosporin in neonates.

Outside of the neonatal period, cefotaxime may be automatically substituted by AHS pharmacy to ceftriaxone unless "no substitution" is specified.

Pharmacology

Pharmacology

Antimicrobial class: 3rd Generation Cephalosporin

Average serum half life:

  • neonates: 3.4-4.6 hours.

  • children: 1.5 hours

Route of Elimination: urine: ~60% as unchanged drug and metabolites in urine