Cephalexin
Pediatric

Pediatric

Urinary Tract Infections

Caution when interpreting susceptibility results for a urine pathogen (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis) to cephalexin/cefazolin

Cephalexin should only be used for treatment of a uncomplicated febrile UTI or cystitis if the urine culture report indicates “S” for cephalexin. See section on Drug Monitoring on previous screen for further information.

Daily Dose: 50 - 100 mg/kg/day. When treating febrile UTI, sinusitis, CAP or AOM in children, 75-100 mg/kg/day is preferred.

Maximum Daily Dose: 4000 mg/day

Dosing Frequency: PO divided TID or QID

Osteoarticular Infections

Daily Dose: 100 - 150 mg/kg/day

Maximum Daily Dose: 4000 mg. In selected circumstances may be up to 6000 mg/day divided QID

Dosing Frequency: PO divided TID or QID

Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis (patients with non-anaphylactic type 1 hypersensitivity to penicillins)

Oral amoxicillin challenge OR PO cephalexin for 10 days

USUAL Daily dose for Children: 40mg/kg/day divided BID for 10 days

USUAL Daily Dose for adolescents/adults: 500 mg PO BID for 10 days

Prophylaxis for Urinary Tract Infection Prevention

Daily Dose: 15 mg/kg/day

Maximum Daily Dose: 250 mg/day

Dosing Frequency: PO divided BID or as a single daily dose