Cefazolin Dosing for Pediatric Patients

Standard Dosing by Infection Severity

For children over 1 month of age, administer cefazolin at 75 mg/kg every 8 hours for most infections, with total daily doses ranging from 25-100 mg/kg/day divided into 3-4 doses depending on infection severity, as recommended by the Clinical Infectious Diseases guideline 1, 2
The guideline-recommended dose for catheter-related infections is 75 mg/kg every 8 hours, according to the Clinical Infectious Diseases guideline 1, 2

For methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections, the preferred parenteral dose is 150 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours, as recommended by the Clinical Infectious Diseases guideline 3
This higher dose is specifically recommended for pneumonia and serious staphylococcal infections, according to the Clinical Infectious Diseases guideline 3

For a 20 lb (9 kg) child with a mild infection, the recommended dose is 75 mg every 8 hours, as stated in the Clinical Infectious Diseases guideline 1
For a 20 lb (9 kg) child with a moderate infection, the recommended dose is 150 mg every 8 hours, according to the Clinical Infectious Diseases guideline 1
For a 50 lb (22.7 kg) child with a mild infection, the recommended dose is 190 mg every 8 hours, as recommended by the Clinical Infectious Diseases guideline 1
For a 50 lb (22.7 kg) child with a moderate infection, the recommended dose is 375 mg every 8 hours, according to the Clinical Infectious Diseases guideline 1

When using cefazolin in pediatric patients, do not exceed adult maximum doses, considering adult dose caps for larger children, as recommended by the Clinical Infectious Diseases guideline 1