Comparative total and unbound pharmacokinetics of cefazolin administered by bolus versus continuous infusion in patients undergoing major surgery: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background. Perioperative administration of cefazolin reduces the incidence of perioperative infections. Intraoperative re-dosing of cefazolin is commonly given between 2 and 5 h after the initial dose. This study was undertaken to determine whether intraoperative continuous infusions of cefazolin achieve better probability of target attainment (PTA) and fractional target attainment (FTA) than intermittent dosing.Methods. Patients undergoing major surgery received cefazolin 2 g before surgical incision. They were subsequently randomized to receive either an intermittent bolus (2 g every 4 h) or continuous infusion (500 mg h⁻¹) of cefazolin until skin closure. Blood samples were analysed for total and unbound cefazolin concentrations using a validated chromatographic method. Population pharmacokinetic modelling was performed using Pmetrics^® software. Calculations of PTA and FTA were performed for common pathogens.Results. Ten patients were enrolled in each arm. A two-compartment linear model best described the time course of the total plasma cefazolin concentrations. The covariates that improved the model were body weight and creatinine clearance. Protein binding varied with time [mean (range) 69 (44–80)%] with a fixed 21% unbound value of cefazolin used for the simulations (120 min post-initial dosing). Mean (sd) central volume of distribution was 5.73 (2.42) litres, and total cefazolin clearance was 4.72 (1.1) litres h⁻¹. Continuous infusions of cefazolin consistently achieved better drug exposures and FTA for different weight and creatinine clearances, particularly for less susceptible pathogens.Conclusions. Our study demonstrates that intraoperative continuous infusions of cefazolin increase the achievement of target plasma concentrations, even with lower infusion doses. Renal function and body weight are important when considering the need for alternative dosing regimens.Clinical trial registration. NCT02058979.

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