title: A prospective study of neutropenia induced by high doses of beta-lactam antibiotics.
abstract: A prospective study on the effect of beta-lactam antibiotics on granulopoiesis was carried out in 29 consecutive patients with bacterial endocarditis. Fourteen patients received a high dose of benzylpenicillin, up to 18 g/day, but in only three of them could the treatment be fulfilled as planned, for a mean time of 25 days. In 11 benzylpenicillin treated patients treatment had to be discontinued because of fever, rash or neutropenia. Neutropenia appeared in seven patients after 14-24 (mean 22) days. No superinfection occurred during the neutropenic phase which lasted 2-12 days. Patients with neutropenia differed significantly from others in having a lowered pretreatment neutrophil count (3.2 vs 10.4). In 15 patients treated with other beta-lactams, three cases of fever and rash and one case of neutropenia were seen in patients treated with cloxacillin 12 g daily. It was concluded that a daily dose of 18 g of benzylpenicillin is too high for longer treatment periods and that patients with initial low counts of neutrophils have an increased risk of developing neutropenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Göteborg, Ostra Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olaison
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alestig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000009:adverse effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003023:Cloxacillin / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000009:adverse effects; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000667:Ampicillin; D003023:Cloxacillin; D010400:Penicillin G; D010878:Piperacillin