Drug class: Penicillinase-resistant Penicillins
Chemical name: [2S-(2α,5α,6β)]-6-[[[3-(2,6-Dichlorophenyl)-5-methyl-4-isoxazolyl]carbonyl]amino]-3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-carboxylic acid monosodium salt monohydrate
CAS number: 13412-64-1

Introduction

Antibacterial; β-lactam antibiotic; isoxazolyl penicillin classified as a penicillinase-resistant penicillin.^{1 2 6 7 18 29 30 37}

Uses for Dicloxacillin

Staphylococcal Infections

Treatment of infections caused by, or suspected of being caused by, susceptible penicillinase-resistant staphylococci.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

Should not be used for initial treatment of severe, life-threatening infections, including endocarditis, but may be used as follow-up after a parenteral penicillinase-resistant penicillin (nafcillin, oxacillin).^{1 2 5 6 8 9}

If used empirically, consider whether staphylococci resistant to penicillinase-resistant penicillins (oxacillin-resistant [methicillin-resistant] staphylococci) are prevalent in the hospital or community.^a (See Staphylococci Resistant to Penicillinase-resistant Penicillins under Cautions.)

Dicloxacillin Dosage and Administration

Administration

Oral Administration

Administer orally at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.^{1 2}

Should not be used for initial treatment of severe infections and should not be relied on in patients with nausea, vomiting, gastric dilatation, cardiospasm, or intestinal hypermotility.^{1 2 6 9}

Dosage

Available as dicloxacillin sodium; dosage expressed in terms of dicloxacillin.^{1 2}

Duration of treatment depends on type and severity of infection and should be determined by the clinical and bacteriologic response of the patient.^{1 2 5 6 8} Usually continued for ≥48 hours after cultures are negative and patient becomes afebrile and asymptomatic.^{1 2} For severe staphylococcal infections, continue therapy for ≥14 days;^{1 2 5 6} more prolonged therapy is necessary for treatment of osteomyelitis, endocarditis, or other metastatic infections.^{1 2 5 6 13 54}

Pediatric Patients

Staphylococcal Infections

Mild to Moderate Infections

Oral

Children weighing <40 kg: 12.5 mg/kg daily given in divided doses every 6 hours.^{1 2 6 11}

Children weighing ≥40 kg: 125 mg every 6 hours.^{1 2 6}

Children ≥1 month of age: AAP recommends 25–50 mg/kg daily in 4 divided doses.⁹

More Severe Infections

Oral

Children weighing <40 kg: 25 mg/kg daily given in divided doses every 6 hours;^{1 2} higher dosage may be necessary depending on severity of infection.^{6 11}

Children weighing ≥40 kg: 250 mg every 6 hours;^{1 2} higher dosage may be necessary depending on severity of infection.⁶

Inappropriate for severe infections per AAP.⁹

Acute or Chronic Osteomyelitis

Oral

50–100 mg/kg daily given in divided doses every 6 hours as follow-up to initial parenteral therapy.^{12 13 14 16 54} If an oral regimen is used, compliance must be assured and some clinicians suggest that serum bactericidal titers (SBTs) be used to monitor adequacy of therapy and adjust dosage.^{13 14 15 16 17 53 54}

When used as follow-up in treatment of acute osteomyelitis, oral regimen usually given for 3–6 weeks or until total duration of parenteral and oral therapy is ≥6 weeks;^{12 13 14 16 54} when used as follow-up in treatment of chronic osteomyelitis, oral regimen usually given for ≥1–2 months and has been given for as long as 1–2 years.^{13 18 54}

Adults

Staphylococcal Infections

Mild to Moderate Infections

Oral

125 mg every 6 hours.^{1 2 6}

More Severe Infections

Oral

250 mg every 6 hours;^{1 2} higher dosage may be necessary depending on severity of infection.⁶

Special Populations

Renal Impairment

Dosage adjustment generally unnecessary in patients with renal impairment.^{19 20 21}

Related/similar drugs

prednisone, amoxicillin, doxycycline, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, metronidazole

Cautions for Dicloxacillin

Contraindications

• Known hypersensitivity to any penicillin.^{1 2 6}

Warnings/Precautions

Sensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, reported with penicillins.^{1 2} Anaphylaxis occurs most frequently with parenteral penicillins but has occurred with oral penicillins.^{1 2}

Prior to initiation of therapy, make careful inquiry regarding previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins, or other drugs.^{1 2} Partial cross-allergenicity occurs among penicillins and other β-lactam antibiotics including cephalosporins and cephamycins.^{1 2 22 23 24 25}

If a severe hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue immediately and institute appropriate therapy as indicated (e.g., epinephrine, corticosteroids, maintenance of an adequate airway and oxygen).^{1 2}

General Precautions

Superinfection

Possible emergence and overgrowth of nonsusceptible bacteria or fungi.^{1 2} Discontinue and institute appropriate therapy if superinfection occurs.^{1 2}

Laboratory Monitoring

Periodically assess organ system functions, including renal, hepatic, and hematopoietic, during prolonged therapy.¹

Peform urinalysis and determine serum creatinine and BUN concentrations prior to and periodically during therapy.^{1 2}

To monitor for hepatotoxicity, determine AST and ALT concentrations prior to and periodically during therapy.^{1 2}

Because adverse hematologic effects have occurred with penicillinase-resistant penicillins, total and differential WBC counts should be performed prior to and 1–3 times weekly during therapy.^{1 2 5 6 26 27}

Selection and Use of Anti-infectives

To reduce development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain effectiveness of dicloxacillin and other antibacterials, use only for treatment or prevention of infections proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria.

When selecting or modifying anti-infective therapy, use results of culture and in vitro susceptibility testing.^{1 2} In the absence of such data, consider local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns when selecting anti-infectives for empiric therapy.^{1 2}

Staphylococci Resistant to Penicillinase-resistant Penicillins

Consider that staphylococci resistant to penicillinase-resistant penicillins (referred to as oxacillin-resistant [methicillin-resistant] staphylococci) are being reported with increasing frequency.^a

If dicloxacillin used empirically for treatment of any infection suspected of being caused by staphylococci, the drug should be discontinued and appropriate anti-infective therapy substituted if the infection is found to be caused by any organism other than penicillinase-producing staphylococci susceptible to penicillinase-resistant penicillins.^{1 2} If staphylococci resistant to penicillinase-resistant penicillins (oxacillin-resistant staphylococci) are prevalent in the hospital or community, empiric therapy of suspected staphylococcal infections should include another appropriate anti-infective (e.g., vancomycin).^a

Sodium Content

Each 250-mg capsule contains approximately 0.6 mEq of sodium.⁵²

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Category B.^{1 2 6}

Lactation

Distributed into milk.^{1 2 6 28} Use with caution.^{1 2 6}

Pediatric Use

Elimination of penicillins is delayed in neonates because of immature mechanisms for renal excretion; abnormally high serum concentrations may occur in this age group.^{1 2 6}

If used in neonates, monitor closely for clinical and laboratory evidence of toxic or adverse effects, determine serum concentrations frequently, and make appropriate reductions in dosage and frequency of administration when indicated.^{1 2 6}

Common Adverse Effects

GI effects (nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, loose stools, diarrhea, flatulence); hypersensitivity reactions.^a

Specific Drugs

Dicloxacillin Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

Rapidly, but incompletely, absorbed from GI tract.^{1 2 7 33}

35–76% of an oral dose absorbed from GI tract;^{33 34 35} peak serum concentrations generally attained within 0.5–2 hours.^{1 2 35 36}

Food

Food in the GI tract generally decreases the rate and extent of absorption.^{1 2 4 6 7 29 35}

Distribution

Extent

Distributed into bone,^{4 39} bile,^{1 2} pleural fluid,^{1 2 4 7} ascitic fluid,⁴ and synovial fluid.^{4 40}

Only minimal concentrations attained in CSF.²

Crosses the placenta⁴² and is distributed into milk.^{1 2 6 28}

Plasma Protein Binding

95–99% bound to serum proteins.^{1 2 7 31 34 37 41}

Elimination

Metabolism

Partially metabolized to active and inactive metabolites.^{4 43 46 47}

Approximately 10% of absorbed drug is hydrolyzed to penicilloic acids which are microbiologically inactive;⁴⁶ also hydroxylated to a small extent to a microbiologically active metabolite which appears to be slightly less active than dicloxacillin.⁴⁷

Elimination Route

Dicloxacillin and its metabolites rapidly eliminated in urine mainly by tubular secretion and glomerular filtration.^{1 2 7 29 43 47} Also partly excreted in feces via biliary elimination.⁴

31–65% of a dose excreted in urine as unchanged drug and active metabolites within 6–8 hours;^{4 31 32 34 36 46 47} approximately 10–20% of this is the active metabolite.^{4 47}

Only minimally removed by hemodialysis^{4 10 20 34 43 44 49} or peritoneal dialysis.^{4 44 49}

Half-life

Adults with normal renal function: 0.6–0.8 hours.^{1 2 4 33 34 43 44 45}

Children 2–16 years of age: average half-life is 1.9 hours.³⁹

Neonates: half-life is longer than in older children.^{4 6}

Special Populations

Patients with renal impairment: serum half-life is slightly prolonged and may range from 1–2.2 hours in those with severe renal impairment.^{4 33 34 45}

Patients with cystic fibrosis eliminate dicloxacillin approximately 3 times faster than healthy individuals.^{7 48}

Stability

Storage

Oral

Capsules

15–30°C⁵² in tight containers.⁵⁰

Actions and Spectrum

• Based on spectrum of activity, classified as a penicillinase-resistant penicillin.^{1 2 6 7 29 30 31 32}

• Usually bactericidal.^{1 2}

• Like other β-lactam antibiotics, antibacterial activity results from inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.^{1 2}

• Spectrum of activity includes many gram-positive aerobic cocci, some gram-positive bacilli, and a few gram-negative aerobic cocci; generally inactive against gram-negative bacilli and anaerobic bacteria.^a Inactive against mycobacteria, Mycoplasma, Rickettsia, fungi, and viruses.^a

• Gram-positive aerobes: active in vitro against penicillinase-producing and nonpenicillinase-producing Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis, S. pyogenes (group A β-hemolytic streptococci), S. agalactiae (group B streptococci), groups C and G streptococci, S. pneumoniae, and some viridans streptococci.^a Enterococci (including E. faecalis) usually are resistant.^a

• Like other penicillinase-resistant penicillins, dicloxacillin is resistant to inactivation by staphylococcal penicillinases and is active against many penicillinase-producing strains of S. aureus and S. epidermidis resistant to natural penicillins, aminopenicillins, or extended-spectrum penicillins.^{1 2 4 6 7 30 31 32}

• Staphylococci resistant to penicillinase-resistant penicillins (referred to as oxacillin-resistant [methicillin-resistant] staphylococci) are being reported with increasing frequency.^a Complete cross-resistance occurs among the penicillinase-resistant penicillins (dicloxacillin, nafcillin, oxacillin).^a

Advice to Patients

• Advise patients that antibacterials (including dicloxacillin) should only be used to treat bacterial infections and not used to treat viral infections (e.g., the common cold).

• Importance of completing full course of therapy, even if feeling better after a few days.^{1 2}

• Advise patients that skipping doses or not completing the full course of therapy may decrease effectiveness and increase the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance and will not be treatable with dicloxacillin or other antibacterials in the future.

• Importance of taking dicloxacillin 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.^{1 2}

• Importance of discontinuing dicloxacillin and notifying clinician if they develop shortness of breath, wheezing, rash, mouth irritation, black tongue, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, swollen joints, or any unusual bleeding or bruising during dicloxacillin treatment.^{1 2}

• Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated concomitant therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs.^{1 2}

• Importance of women informing clinician if they are or plan to become pregnant or to breast-feed.¹

• Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information. (See Cautions.)

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Please refer to the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center for information on shortages of one or more of these preparations.

* available from one or more manufacturer, distributor, and/or repackager by generic (nonproprietary) name

Medical Disclaimer