title: Electrolytes imbalance: a rare side effect of piperacillin/ tazobactam therapy.
abstract: Electrolytes imbalance has been reported with the use of several antimicrobials. We report a case of severe hypokalemia secondary to piperacillin/tazobactam in a patient with normal renal function and normal serum potassium level who had presented with a fractured neck of femur. The electrolytes abnormality was corrected once piperacillin/tazobactam was stopped. To our knowledge, this is the first case to describe an early severe hypokalemia induced by piperacillin/ tazobactam therapy in an otherwise healthy individual.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, The University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom. shahkhan77@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Shakir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Shakir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baloch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D010878:Piperacillin