Tremor as a Rare Manifestation of Cefepime Neurotoxicity

Division

East Florida

Hospital

Westside Regional Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

5-1-2024

Keywords

adverse drug reactions, case report, cefepime, neurotoxicity, tremor

Disciplines

Bacterial Infections and Mycoses | Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications | Internal Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nervous System Diseases | Neurology

Abstract

The antibiotic cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin with extended-spectrum coverage against both gram-positive and negative bacteria. It is commonly used in the inpatient setting to treat community-acquired pneumonia or urinary tract infection and has side effects, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, headache, and, more rarely, hypersensitivity reactions or neurotoxicity. The current report is about an 88-year-old female patient who was brought to the hospital by her daughter due to an acute change in mental status resulting from a urinary tract infection. The patient received intravenous cefepime and subsequently developed a low-frequency tremor after one day of treatment. Cefepime was discontinued with a resolution of tremor in three days. Though neurotoxicity has been documented as a serious adverse event with cefepime, tremor is not one of the known neurotoxic manifestations. This patient is the first reported to develop a tremor as a neurotoxic side effect from taking cefepime. Healthcare providers should be aware of this potential side effect and may consider discontinuing treatment with cefepime if their patient develops a new tremor within days of initiating treatment.

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS