Antimicrobials
Cephalexin

Cephalexin

Medium
Excellent
$$

Spectrum of Activity

Dosing

General Information

  • Skin and soft tissue infections
  • Bone and Joint Infections
  • Pneumonia (if organism susceptible)
  • UTI

Resistant Strep. pneumoniae

With prolonged therapy, monitor renal, hepatic, and hematologic function periodically

  • Uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infection (cellulitis)
  • MSSA infections
  • Hypersensitivity, rash
  • Can cause positive Coombs
  • Cytopenias, eosinophilia

Zinc containing supplements (administer 3 hours after cephalexin)

Prisma Health Inpatient Formulary
Suspension: 250 mg/5 mL

Other Available Outpatient Strengths
Suspension: 125 mg/5 mL

Prisma Health Inpatient Formulary
Capsule: 250 mg, 500 mg

Other Available Outpatient Strengths
Capsule: 750 mg
Tablet: 250 mg, 500 mg

  • Same side chain as ampicillin
  • Caution in patients allergic to ampicillin

Antimicrobial class: First generation cephalosporin - oral

Pregnancy category: B

Average serum half life:

  • Neonates: 5 hours
  • Children 3 to 12 months: 2-3 hours
  • Adults: 1 hour

Biliary penetration: Low

CSF penetration: Poor

Lung penetration: Good

Urine penetration: Excellent (80-100% excreted as unchanged drug)

Route of Elimination: 80% to 100% of dose excreted as unchanged drug in urine within 8 hours