Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome due to carbapenem antibiotics

多彩な免疫再構築症候群の症状を呈した重症COVID–19の1例(Various IRIS–like symptoms following severe COVID–19 infection: a case report)

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe drug reaction associated with organ failure. DRESS’s pathogenesis is related to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). We report a coronavirus disease (COVID–19) case with severe pneumonia, wherein DRESS developed as a symptom of IRIS. A 56–year–old man underwent venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV–ECMO) to treat severe COVID–19. He developed ventilator–associated pneumonia and was treated with Meropenem from the third to the sixth day. During treatment, lung abscess caused by multidrug–resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia developed, but he was weaned from VV–ECMO within a month. On the 37th day, papules and an erythematous rash appeared throughout his body, and fever, tachycardia, hypotension, and acute kidney injury (AKI) were reported. The condition was diagnosed as DRESS according to the RegiSCAR criteria. Meropenem was suspected as the cause based on the drug–induced lymphocyte stimulation test. The patient’s vitals stabilized, skin rash, and AKI improved after steroid administration. However, generalized herpes zoster and Ramsay–Hunt syndrome developed upon decreasing the steroids; hence, the steroid dose was increased. DRESS and zoster reactivation can occur during severe COVID–19 recovery. Therefore, it is advisable to use steroids appropriately and reduce the dose carefully.

Antibacterial antibiotic-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome: a literature review

Background

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome (DRESS) is a delayed infrequent potentially life-threatening idiosyncratic drug reaction. Aromatic anticonvulsants and allopurinol are the most frequent causative agents. However, various reports of antibiotic-induced DRESS are available. In this review, we try to summarize reports of antibacterial antibiotic-induced DRESS focusing on characteristics of DRESS induced by each antibiotic group.

Methods

The data were collected by searching PubMed/MEDLINE and ScienceDirect. The keywords used as search terms were “DRESS syndrome,” “drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS),” “antibiotics,” “antimicrobial,” and names of various antimicrobial groups. Finally, 254 relevant cases with a definite or probable diagnosis of DRESS based on RegiSCAR criteria were found until 30 May 2020 and reviewed.

Results and conclusion

Totally, 254 cases of antibacterial antibiotic-induced DRESS are reported. Most of them are related to antituberculosis drugs, vancomycin, and sulfonamides, respectively. Rash and fever were most frequent clinical findings. Eosinophilia and liver injury were the most reported hematologic and visceral organ involvement, respectively. Most of the patients are managed with systemic corticosteroids. The death occurred in 16 patients which most of them experienced liver or lung involvement. The reactivation of various viruses especially HHV-6 is reported in 33 cases. The mean latency period was 29 days. It is necessary to perform thorough epidemiological, genetic, and immunological studies, also systematic case review and causality assessment, as well as well-designed clinical trials for better management of antibiotic-induced DRESS.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00228-020-03005-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.