Drug Fever Induced by Piperacillin/Tazobactam in a Scoliosis Patient: A Case Report

Medicine (Baltimore). 2015 Nov;94(46):e1875. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000001875.

Abstract

Drug fever is frequently underrecognized by clinicians despite its common occurrence. Fever induced by piperacillin/tazobactam has not been reported in scoliosis correction surgery.Drug fever caused by piperacillin/tazobactam in a scoliosis patient was described.A 36-year-old woman with adult scoliosis undergoing correction surgery was reported. She developed a fever after an intake of piperacillin/tazobactam for 3 days. Eosinophil count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive proteins were increased in her blood examination. Thorough history, chest radiography, blood cultures, physical examination, and urinalysis revealed no evidences of fever. A drug fever is therefore considered. The fever lasted for 2 weeks and her body temperature come back to normal 4 days after piperacillin/tazobactam cessation.Fever could be caused by piperacillin/tazobactam. The drug fever's diagnosis is easily confounded by a co-occurring infection. Therefore, it is crucial for clinicians to doubt drugs as a reason when no other origin of fever could be identified in a patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Fever / chemically induced*
  • Fever / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Penicillanic Acid / adverse effects
  • Penicillanic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Piperacillin / adverse effects
  • Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination
  • Postoperative Complications / chemically induced*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
  • Scoliosis / surgery*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination
  • Penicillanic Acid
  • Piperacillin