title: Cutaneous reactions to antibacterial agents.
abstract: Antibacterial agents may cause a variety of untoward reactions. Some range from transient, mild erythema to toxic epidermal necrolysis, often resulting in disability and death. Both in vivo and in vitro tests are becoming useful for the diagnosis of the causative agent in drug eruptions. The drug hypersensitivity syndrome may be associated with thyroid abnormalities often occurring months after the drug has been withdrawn. Symmetrical small joint polyarthritis, fever, and malaise may be the presenting findings in a patient with drug-induced lupus erythematosus. Exanthematous drug eruptions without high fever, mucosal involvement, or joint symptoms often resolve without discontinuation of the drug. The differential diagnosis of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis depends on the percentage of epidermal detachment.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3501 Ryan Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19136, USA. jawitkow@bellatlantic.net
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Witkowski
authors.forename: Lawrence Charles
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Parish
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents