The serum half-life and urine concentrations of cephazolin sodium in patients with terminal renal failure: effect of haemodialysis.

The serum and plasma half-life of cephazolin has been determined in 5 maintenance haemodialysis patients during a non-dialysis period and then again in the same patients during haemodialysis with a Meltec Maxi-Multipont dialyser using cuprophance membranes. The mean half-life during the non-dialysis period was 28.3 hours and fell to a mean of 4.97 hours during haemodialysis. Percentage recovery of cephazolin in the urine was markedly reduced in 4 maintenance dialysis patients although adequate urine concentrations of cephazolin were achieved for many sensitive organisms. A dosage schedule for patients with creatinine clearances of less than 5 ml. per minute and for maintenance haemodialysis patients is suggested.