Fatal case of cephalexin-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis

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.

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in a Critically Ill African American Woman: A Case Report Written With ChatGPT Assistance

“…In our patient, acute kidney injury may be responsible for her rapid decline and is an independent risk factor for increased mortality in TEN [7]. It is well documented in the literature that antimicrobials such as cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones can induce SJS and TEN [8][9][10][11], which our patient was receiving. Although high-risk agents were stopped immediately upon her diagnosis, SJS/TEN can occur a few days after the offending drug has been withdrawn in the case of long-half-life drugs.…”

Cefadroxil Induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Case Report

“…Multiple studies revealed that cephalosporins are the culprit in inducing TEN. 6,18,19 The presumption, in this case, was that the patient developed TEN due to the consumption of cefadroxil for the complaints of fever, throat and abdominal pain. The likelihood of the adverse reaction being attributed to cefadroxil was evaluated using the Naranjo probability scale.…”