Summary of beta-lactam stability when stored at 25±2°C.
| Agent | Summary of Product Characteristics: Room temperature stability data (Drug manufacturer) | Statement on stability permitting up to 5% loss of API unless alternative standard in BP monograph (UK standard)* | Statement on stability permitting up to 10% loss of API | Additional comments | References |
| Ampicillin | Immediate use | Insufficient evidence to extend beyond SPC | 19 25 35 36 37 | ||
| Amoxicillin | 30 min | Amoxicillin 25 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% for 6 hours. | 19 20 21 22 23 | ||
| Aztreonam | 24 hours at 2–8°C followed by 60 min at room temp | Aztreonam 10–120 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% stable for 24 hours at room temp | 17 18 19 | ||
| Benzylpenicillin* | Immediate use | Benzylpenicillin 60 mg/mL (unbuffered) in Acetate Ringers Solution stable for 24 hours at room temp | Consideration of pH variation with acetate Ringers. International variation. | 19 25 26 27–29 | |
| Cefazolin | 12 hours | Cefazolin 5–40 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% or glucose 5% stable for 24 hours at room temperature. | 19 31 41–46 | ||
| Cefepime | 18 hours | Insufficient evidence to extend beyond SPC | Cefepime 8 mg/mL in sodium chloride 0.9% or glucose 5% at room temperature for 24 hours | 17–19 46–49 | |
| Cefiderocol | 24 hours at 2–8°C followed by 6 hours at 25°C | Insufficient evidence to extend beyond SPC | Cefiderocol 62.5 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% or glucose 5% for 12 hours at room temperature | 19 50 51 | |
| Cefmetazole | N/a | Cefmetazole 33 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% or glucose 5% stable for 8 hours at room temperature | Cefmetazole 33 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% or glucose 5% stable for 24 hours at room temperature | 19 31 | |
| Cefotaxime | 24 hours | Insufficient evidence to extend beyond SPC | 19 60 61 | ||
| Cefoxitin | 4 hours at 25°C | Insufficient evidence to extend beyond SPC | 2–200 mg/mL in sodium chloride 0.9% or glucose 5% stable for 24 hours at room temperature | Some evidence for extension however fresh studies would be required | 19 44 52 |
| Ceftaroline | 12 hours at 2–8°C and 6 hours at 25°C | Ceftaroline 6 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% stable for 12 hours at room temp | Ceftaroline 6 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% stable for 24 hours at room temperature | 19 53 54 | |
| Ceftazidime | 2 hours at 25°C | Ceftazidime 5–120 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% for 16 hours at room temperature | 18 19 24 44–46 49 55–59 | ||
| tolazone-tazobactam | 24 hours at room temperature | Insufficient evidence to extend beyond SPC | 19 62–64 | ||
| Ceftriaxone | Immediate use | Ceftriaxone 5–40 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% for 24 hours at room temperature | 19 46 | ||
| Cefuroxime | Immediate use | Insufficient evidence to extend beyond SPC | 19 44 | ||
| Doripenem | 12 hours at 25°C | Insufficient evidence to extend beyond US monograph | Doripenem 5.3–11.1 mg/mL in sodium chloride 0.9% for 24 hours at room temperature | US data sheet only | 19 31 65–67 |
| Ertapenem | 6 hours at 25°C | Insufficient evidence to extend beyond SPC | Shelf-life should not be extended until the nature of solution discolouration is investigated | 19 81 | |
| Flucloxacillin† | Immediate use | Flucloxacillin 50 mg/mL in sodium chloride 0.9% for 24 hours | 19 27 30 | ||
| Imipenem-cilastatin | Immediate use | 2.5–5.0 mg/mL 3 hours at 25°C in NaCl 0.9% | 2.5–5.0 mg/mL in sodium chloride 0.9% for 9 hours at room temperature | 18 19 68 | |
| Meropenem | From immediate use up to 4 hours depending on manufacturer | Meropenem 6.25–25 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% Stable for 4 hours at 25°C | Meropenem 10–12 mg/mL in sodium chloride 0.9% or glucose 5% stable for 8 hours at room temperature. Meropenem 40 mg/mL in sodium chloride 0.9% or glucose 5% stable for 6 hours at room temperature |
18 19 31 69–80
| |
| Piperacillin-tazobactam | From immediate use to 24 hours depending on manufacturer | Piperacillin-tazobactam 22.5–90 mg/mL in NaCl 0.9% or glucose 5% at least 24 hours at room temp | 17 19 31–33 | ||
| Temocillin | 24 hours at 25°C | Insufficient evidence to extend beyond SPC | 19 38–40 | ||
| Ticarcillin-clavulanate | N/a | No UK or EU SPC No statement on stability at room temperature due to limited data available | Ticarcillin-clavulanate 12/0.8-150/10 mg/mL in sodium chloride 0.9% stable for 24 hours at room temperature. | 17 34 | |
*British Pharmacopeial standard for benzylpenicillin infusion permits API range of 90–110%.
†British Pharmacopeial standard for flucloxacillin infusion permits API range of 90–105%.
API, active pharmaceutical ingredient ; BP, British Pharmacopoeia; EU, European Union; min, minutes; N/a, not applicable; NaCI, Sodium chloride 0.9%; SPC, Summary of Product Characteristics; temp, temperature; UK, United Kingdom; US, United States.