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Central nervous system toxicity associated with ertapenem use.

Author(s): Duquaine S, Kitchell E, Tate T, Tannen RC, Wickremasinghe IM

Affiliation(s): Infectious Diseases, North Texas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. SusanM.Duquaine@va.gov

Publication date & source: 2011-01, Ann Pharmacother., 45(1):e6. Epub 2010 Dec 21.

Publication type: Case Reports

OBJECTIVE: To report stroke-like symptoms and unusual central nervous system adverse effects in 2 elderly patients receiving ertapenem. CASE SUMMARY: Two patients >/=70 years of age experienced unusual mental status changes while receiving ertapenem. Patient 1 developed garbled speech and miosis 1 week after starting appropriately dosed ertapenem (1 g/day) for sacral osteomyelitis. Symptoms resolved upon ertapenem discontinuation but recurred upon rechallenge. Patient 2, a cachectic male with acute renal insufficiency, became delirious and progressively obtunded 5 days after starting ertapenem 1 g/day. Nine days after initiation of therapy, he required intubation and mechanical ventilation; ertapenem was discontinued at that time. Within 2 days of ertapenem discontinuation, his mental state cleared and the ventilator was removed. DISCUSSION: Carbapenems, including ertapenem, have been implicated in causing central nervous system toxicity, including hallucinations and seizures. However, published reports of other, nonseizure-related central nervous system events are limited. Considerable resources were expended on extensive medical interventions before ertapenem was identified as a potential cause of the delirium in our patients. When applied to our patients, the Naranjo probability scale indicated a highly probable relationship for patient 1 and a probable relationship for patient 2 between the adverse effects and ertapenem use. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be cognizant of ertapenem's potential to induce profound changes in mental status that may mimic other conditions in elderly patients.

Page last updated: 2011-12-09

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