Last update April 20, 2025

Cefazolin

Compatible

Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.

Cefazolin is a first-generation broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. Intramuscular, intravenous or intraperitoneal administration.

Like most cephalosporins for which data are available, it is excreted in breast milk in very small, clinically insignificant amounts. (Fukada 1973, Yoshioka 1979, Zhang 1997)

Cephalosporins are widely used in paediatrics and are well tolerated, even from the neonatal period, so it is very unlikely that small amounts of cephalosporins in milk can cause problems for the infant. The dose that the infant can receive through breast milk is 100-400 times lower than the therapeutic dose for the infant. (Fulton 1992)

The possibility of gastroenteritis (Ito 1993) due to alteration of the intestinal flora must be taken into account.

Expert authors consider this medication safe for use during breastfeeding. (Hale, LactMed, Rowe 2013, Amir 2011).

American Academy of Pediatrics: Mediation usually compatible with breastfeeding. (AAP 2001)

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Cefazolin since it is relatively safe.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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Other names

Cefazolin in other languages or writings:

Group

Cefazolin belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Cefazolin in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. Baja - Low %
Molecular weight 477 daltons
Protein Binding 89 %
VD 0.14 l/Kg
Tmax 1 - 2 hours
T½ 1 - 2 hours
M/P ratio 0.02 -
Theoretical Dose 0.2 mg/Kg/d
Relative Dose 1.6 %
Ped.Relat.Dose 0.2 - 0.4 %

References

  1. LactMed. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Internet. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/ 2006 - Consulted on April 16, 2024 Full text (link to original source)
  2. Hale TW. Medications & Mothers' Milk. 1991- . Springer Publishing Company. Available from https://www.halesmeds.com Consulted on April 10, 2024 Full text (link to original source)
  3. Rowe H, Baker T, Hale TW. Maternal medication, drug use, and breastfeeding. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013 Feb;60(1):275-94. Abstract
  4. Amir LH, Pirotta MV, Raval M. Breastfeeding--evidence based guidelines for the use of medicines. Aust Fam Physician. 2011 Sep;40(9):684-90. Review. Abstract
  5. AAP - American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs. Transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk. Pediatrics. 2001 Sep;108(3):776-89. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  6. Zhang Y, Zhang Q, Xu Z. [Tissue and body fluid distribution of antibacterial agents in pregnant and lactating women]. Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi. 1997 Abstract
  7. Ito S, Blajchman A, Stephenson M, Eliopoulos C, Koren G. Prospective follow-up of adverse reactions in breast-fed infants exposed to maternal medication. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1993 May;168(5):1393-9. Abstract
  8. Fulton B, Moore LL. Antiinfectives in breastmilk. Part I: Penicillins and cephalosporins. J Hum Lact. 1992 Abstract
  9. Yoshioka H, Cho K, Takimoto M, Maruyama S, Shimizu T. Transfer of cefazolin into human milk. J Pediatr. 1979 Abstract
  10. Fukada M. Studies on chemotherapy during the perinatal period with special reference to such derivatives of cephalosporin C as cefazolin, cephaloridine and cephalothin. Jpn J Antibiot. 1973 Abstract

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