BY INTRAMUSCULAR OR BY SLOW INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OR BY INFUSION, 2.4 - 4.8 G DAILY IN 4 DIVIDED DOSES, INCREASED IF NECESSARY IN MORE SERIOUS INFECTIONS (SINGLE DOSES OVER 1.2 G INTRAVENOUS ROUTE ONLY; SEE ALSO BELOW); PRETERM NEONATE AND NEONATE UNDER 1 WEEK, 50 MG/KG DAILY IN 2 DIVIDED DOSES; NEONATE 1 - 4 WEEKS, 75 MG/KG DAILY IN 3 DIVIDED DOSES; CHILD 1 MONTH - 12 YEARS, 100 MG/KG DAILY IN 4 DIVIDED DOSES (HIGHER DOSES MAY BE REQUIRED, SEE ALSO BELOW); INTRAVENOUS ROUTE RECOMMENDED IN NEONATES AND INFANTS
ENDOCARDITIS (IN COMBINATION WITH ANOTHER ANTIBACTERIAL IF NECESSARY, SEE TABLE 1, SECTION 5.1), BY SLOW INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OR BY INFUSION, 7.2 G DAILY IN 6 DIVIDED DOSES, INCREASED IF NECESSARY (E.G. IN ENTEROCOCCAL ENDOCARDITIS OR IF BENZYLPENICILLIN USED ALONE) TO 14.4 G DAILY IN 6 DIVIDED DOSES
ANTHRAX (IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER ANTIBACTERIALS, SEE ALSO SECTION 5.1.12), BY SLOW INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OR BY INFUSION, 2.4 G EVERY 4 HOURS; CHILD 150 MG/KG DAILY IN 4 DIVIDED DOSES
INTRAPARTUM PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTION, BY SLOW INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OR BY INFUSION, INITIALLY 3 G THEN 1.5 G EVERY 4 HOURS UNTIL DELIVERY
MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE, BY SLOW INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OR BY INFUSION, 2.4 G EVERY 4 HOURS; PRETERM NEONATE AND NEONATE UNDER 1 WEEK, 100 MG/KG DAILY IN 2 DIVIDED DOSES; NEONATE 1 - 4 WEEKS, 150 MG/KG DAILY IN 3 DIVIDED DOSES; CHILD 1 MONTH - 12 YEARS, 180 - 300 MG/KG DAILY IN 4 - 6 DIVIDED DOSES
IMPORTANT. IF BACTERIAL MENINGITIS AND ESPECIALLY IF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE IS SUSPECTED GENERAL PRACTITIONERS ARE ADVISED TO GIVE A SINGLE INJECTION OF BENZYLPENICILLIN BY INTRAVENOUS INJECTION (OR BY INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION) BEFORE TRANSFERRING THE PATIENT URGENTLY TO HOSPITAL. SUITABLE DOSES ARE: ADULT 1.2 G; INFANT UNDER 1 YEAR 300 MG; CHILD 1 - 9 YEARS 600 MG, 10 YEARS AND OVER AS FOR ADULT. IN PENICILLIN ALLERGY, CEFOTAXIME (SECTION 5.1.2) MAY BE AN ALTERNATIVE; CHLORAMPHENICOL MAY BE USED IF THERE IS A HISTORY OF ANAPHYLAXIS TO PENICILLINS