Uncommon vancomycin-induced side effects

Braz J Infect Dis. 2002 Aug;6(4):196-200. doi: 10.1590/s1413-86702002000400007.

Abstract

Vancomycin has been used with increased frequency during the past 15 years and the most common toxicity with this drug is the red man syndrome . Other adverse effects include neutropenia, fever, phlebitis, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, thrombocytopenia, interstitial nephritis, lacrimation, linear IgA bullous dermatosis, necrotizing cutaneous vasculitis and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Only two cases of vancomycin-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and one case of pancytopenia have been reported in the medical literature. The treatment for both situations is based on cessation of the vancomycin therapy; in cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, antihistamine and/or steroid agents can be used. This article reports a case of pancytopenia and a case of erythema major associated with neutropenia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Eosinophilia / chemically induced
  • Erythema / chemically induced*
  • Female
  • Fever / chemically induced
  • Hip Prosthesis
  • Humans
  • Methicillin Resistance
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced*
  • Ofloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / drug therapy
  • Pruritus / chemically induced
  • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification
  • Syndrome
  • Vancomycin / adverse effects*
  • Vancomycin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Vancomycin
  • Ofloxacin