Ceftriaxone is a widely used antibiotic regarded as safe and effective. Drug-induced agranulocytosis is a life-threatening adverse reaction and few reports related to ceftriaxone were found in a review of the literature. The authors present a case of ceftriaxone-induced agranulocytosis, in which a brain abscess was diagnosed and ceftriaxone was commenced. Neutropenic fever occurred on the 29th day of therapy with a cumulative dose of 116 g ceftriaxone and a neutrophil nadir of 0.1×109/l. Ceftriaxone was withheld, filgrastim was administered for 3 days and neutrophil normalization was achieved. Although rare, ceftriaxone-induced agranulocytosis may occur in patients on a long course of ceftriaxone therapy. Prompt recognition and drug withdrawal are required.
Learning points: Ceftriaxone-induced agranulocytosis is rare but may occur in patients with high cumulative doses.Prompt recognition, drug withdrawal and administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) are the mainstay approach.
Keywords: Ceftriaxone; drug-induced agranulocytosis; neutropenia.
© EFIM 2021.