Cefazolin Pharmacokinetics in Premature Infants

OBJECTIVE: Pharmacokinetic (PK) data to guide cefazolin dosing in premature infants is virtually non-existent. Therefore, we aimed to characterize cefazolin PK in infants aged ≤32 weeks of gestation at birth. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective, open-label PK and safety study of cefazolin in infants ≤32 weeks gestation from a University Medical Center. We administered intravenous cefazolin and collected both timed and scavenged blood samples. We analyzed data using non-linear mixed effect modeling and simulated several dosage regimens to achieve target concentrations against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. RESULTS: We analyzed 40 samples from 9 infants and observed that premature infants had lower clearance and greater volume of distribution for cefazolin compared to older children. The median (range) individual Bayesian estimates were 0.03 L/h/kg (0.01-0.08) for clearance and 0.39 L/kg (0.31-0.52) for volume. CONCLUSION: Simulations suggested reduced cefazolin dosing based on postmenstrual age achieve target concentrations and potentially reduce unnecessary exposure.