Question

The dose of cefuroxime in severe infections is 1.5 g every 8 hours by infusion. The dose is reduced to 750 mg every 12 hours for patients with CrCl of 10-20 mL/min and 750 mg every 24 hours if the CrCl is below 10 mL/min. How many milliliters per hour of an infusion containing cefuroxime, 15 mg/mL, would constitute the dose for a 56-year old male patient weighing 140 pounds, measuring 62 inches in height, with a serum creatinine of 4.0 mg/100 mL? (Use Jelliffe equation for CrCl)          

Answer 1

Jelliffe equation for Crcl for males = 98- 0.8 (patient's age in years - 20) / serum creatinine in mg/dl

= 98- 0.8 (56 - 20) / 4

= 17.3 ml/ min

As per given if crcl between 10-20 mgs/dl the cefuroxime infusion is 750mg every 12 hours

The patient crcl is 17.3 ml/min. so the patient should get cefuroxime 750mg/ 12hrs or 1500mg/24hrs.

If 15mg cefuroxime/ ml means 100ml dilution contains 1500mg.

so 100ml to be infused to 24hrs contains 1500mgs of cefuxime.

per hour = 100ml/24hrs

= 4.17ml/hr

= 4.1ml/hr (approximately) to be infused for the patient.