Cefazolin for all or just some? A review of cefazolin for surgical site infection prophylaxis in patients with β-lactam allergies

Clicks: 1
ID: 318328
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal

Ranked #102 of 143 articles by views in American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 143 in total.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract Purpose To evaluate recent studies assessing the safety of cefazolin for surgical site infection (SSI) prophylaxis in patients with reported β-lactam allergies and to review interventions aimed at optimizing its use in this population. Summary Decades of clinical practice have been shaped by misleading assumptions regarding the degree of cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins. Contemporary evidence demonstrates that cefazolin, a first-generation cephalosporin with a unique R1 side chain, is not cross-reactive with penicillins and is well tolerated in patients with histories of immediate and severe delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Retrospective and prospective studies consistently report low rates of cefazolin-associated hypersensitivity reactions, including in cohorts with high-risk allergy histories. In contrast, alternative agents such as clindamycin and vancomycin are associated with higher rates of SSI and adverse effects. Institutional interventions, including educational initiatives, protocol-based antibiotic selection, and R1 side chain–based algorithms, have successfully increased cefazolin utilization without increasing the incidence of hypersensitivity events. Conclusion Cefazolin is a safe and effective agent for SSI prophylaxis and should be used in patients with β-lactam allergies. Overcoming persistent misconceptions and adopting evidence-based prescribing strategies can reduce unnecessary avoidance of cefazolin, decrease postoperative infection rates, and improve patient outcomes.
Reference Key
openalex_W7165657729 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Meghan N. Jeffres
Journal American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/ajhp/zxag138
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxag138
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.