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  6. Cefazolin (intravenous) dosing in adult patients (age ≥ 16 years) for the treatment of Meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (1278)

Cefazolin (intravenous) dosing in adult patients (age ≥ 16 years) for the treatment of Meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (1278)

A guideline is intended to assist healthcare professionals in the choice of disease-specific treatments.

Clinical judgement should be exercised on the applicability of any guideline, influenced by individual patient characteristics. Clinicians should be mindful of the potential for harmful polypharmacy and increased susceptibility to adverse drug reactions in patients with multiple morbidities or frailty.

If, after discussion with the patient or carer, there are good reasons for not following a guideline, it is good practice to record these and communicate them to others involved in the care of the patient.

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Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 15/05/2026

Next review date: 28/02/2029

Author(s): Lee Stewart.

Version: 1

Approved By: Antimicrobial Utilisation Committee

Document Id: 1278

References

1. Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Cefazolin Summary of Product
Characteristics, 2024. Available at:https://products.mhra.gov.uk/search/?

2. Staphylococcus aureus Network Adaptive Platform (SNAP) trial. Dosing for backbone antibiotics in
SNAP Trial, 2021. Available at: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6037827ef750ae6bfbc49edd/65487e90302b135d5fcd5a07_Dosing%20for%20Backbone%20Antibiotics_20JAN2021.pdf

3. Stanford Health Care Antimicrobial Dosing Reference Guide, 2023. Available at: https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/bugsanddrugs/documents/antimicrobial-dosing-protocols/SHC-ABX-Dosing-Guide.pdf

4. The Renal Drug Database. Cefazolin monograph, 2023. Available at:
https://www.renaldrugdatabase.com/s/

5. NHS Tayside. Cefazolin Prescribing Guidance, 2021. Available at: https://www.nhstaysideadtc.scot.nhs.uk/Antibiotic%20site/pdf%20docs/Cefazolin%20Prescribing%20Guidance.pdf

6. NHS Chelsea and Westminster. Cefazolin dosage guidelines. Personal communication, May 2025.

7. Roberts JA et al. Plasma and target-site subcutaneous tissue population pharmacokinetics and
dosing simulations of cefazolin in post-trauma critically ill patients. Journal of Antimicrobial
Chemotherapy, 2015; 70 (5): 1495 – 1502.

8. Chung EK et al. Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cefazolin using total and
unbound serum concentrations in patients with high body weight. International Journal of
Antimicrobial Agents, 2023. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106751

9. Bindellini D et al. Evaluation of the need for dosing adaptations in obese patients for surgical
antibiotic prophylaxis: a model-based analysis of cefazolin pharmacokinetics. British Journal of
Anaesthesia, 2025; 134 (4): 1041 - 1049.

10. Pitcock CA et al. Optimizing cefazolin dosing for central nervous system infections: insights
from population pharmacokinetics and Monte Carlo simulations. Antimicrobial Agents and
Chemotherapy, 2025. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.01857-24