Fatal case of cephalexin-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-2014
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe a case of toxic epidermal necrolysis likely caused by cephalexin with a review of the literature.
CASE: An 80-year-old male with a known allergy to cephalosporins, residing at a long-term acute care hospital, received cephalexin for a urinary tract infection. And 1 day after starting therapy, the patient developed an extensive erythematous rash accompanied by skin sloughing; 4 days after receiving cephalexin, the patient was directly admitted to the burn intensive care unit and was diagnosed with toxic epidermal necrolysis involving 56% of the total body surface area. Progressive deterioration to multisystem organ failure ensued, and the patient died 5 days following his admission to the burn intensive care unit. At the time of death, ulcerations were noted over approximately 80% of his body.
SUMMARY: The temporal association of the patient's ingestion of cephalexin for a urinary tract infection to his onset of toxic epidermal necrolysis suggests that this 80-year-old man developed toxic epidermal necrolysis following the administration of cephalexin for a urinary tract infection.
Volume
2
First Page
2050313
Last Page
2050313
ISSN
2050-313X
Published In/Presented At
Hafermann, M. J., Barber, G. R., Dreskin, S. C., & Lindberg, G. K. (2014). Fatal case of cephalexin-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis. SAGE open medical case reports, 2, 2050313X14532250. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X14532250
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
27489646
Department(s)
Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article