RiteMED Cefepime Caution For Usage

Directions for Use, Compatibility and Stability: Cefepime powder for injection may be reconstituted as shown as follows: See Table 5.

Click on icon to see table/diagram/image

For IM Administration: Reconstitute with one of the following diluents: Sterile Water for Injection, Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, Lidocaine Hydrochloride 0.5% or 1% Injection or Bacteriostatic Water for Injection (with benzyl alcohol or parabens). The resulting solution is administered by deep IM injection into a large muscle mass (such as the upper outer quadrant of the gluteus maximus).
For Direct IV Administration: The resulting solution should be injected directly into the vein over 3 to 5 minutes or injected into a tubing of an administration set while the patient is receiving a compatible IV fluid.
For IV Infusion: Reconstitute cefepime powder for injection as noted previously for direct IV administration, and add an appropriate quantity of the resulting solution to an IV container with one of the compatible IV fluids. The resulting solution for IV Infusion should be administered over approximately 30 minutes.
Cefepime is compatible at concentrations between 1 mg/mL and 40 mg/mL with the following IV Infusion fluids: Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection; Dextrose 5% and 10% Injection; M/6 Sodium Lactate Injection; Dextrose 5% and Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection; Lactated Ringers and Dextrose 6% Injection; Normosol-R; Normosol-M in Dextrose 5% Injection.
Reconstituted solutions may be stored up to 24 hours at room temperature (20 to 25°C) or for 7 days at 2 to 8°C.
Prior to administration, parenteral products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration.
Shake the reconstituted solution before use.
Observe strict aseptic technique when drawing up the contents of the vial. If contaminated, it has the potential to become a source of infection to patients.
Like some other cephalosporins, cefepime powder for injection and solutions of the drag tend to darken, depending on storage conditions; however, such discoloration does not indicate loss of potency.
Incompatibility: As with most beta-lactam antibiotics, solutions of cefepime should not be added to solutions of metronidazole, vancomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin sulfate, or netilmicin sulfate because of physical or chemical incompatibility. However, if concomitant treatment with cefepime is indicated, each of these antibiotics can be administered separately.