Biopsy-proved acute tubulointerstitial nephritis and toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with vancomycin

Serum concentration of continuously administered vancomycin influences efficacy and safety in critically ill adults: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Vancomycin is used to treat Gram-positive infections in critically ill adults. For vancomycin administered by continuous infusion (CI), various target ranges have been used, ranging from 15-20 mg/L to 30-40 mg/L. This systematic literature review was conducted to investigate the impact of steady-state serum concentration (Css) of CI on safety and efficacy of therapy in critically ill adults.

METHODS

Relevant literature was identified by searching two electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library) and Google Scholar from inception until July 2023, focusing on studies reporting measured Css and treatment outcomes (e.g. mortality, nephrotoxicity) with CI. Due to study heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis of the evidence was performed.

RESULTS

Twenty-one publications were included with a total of 2949 patients. Mortality was higher (two studies, n = 388 patients) and clinical cure was lower (one study, n = 40 patients) with Css < 15 mg/L measured 24 h after initiation of CI (C24). An adequate loading dose appeared most important for maintaining higher C24. Generally, higher Css was associated with higher rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) (15 studies, n = 2331 patients). It was calculated that Css < 25 mg/L (versus ≥25 mg/L) was preferable for reducing nephrotoxicity (three studies, n = 515 patients).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite sparse data availability, the target range of 15-25 mg/L in CI may increase clinical cure and reduce mortality and AKI. In future research, vancomycin Css cohorts should be formed to allow evaluation of the impact of Css of CI on treatment outcomes.

Case Report: Vancomycin-Associated Tubulointerstitial Nephritis in Clinical Practice-Case Report and Review of Literature

Nephrotoxicity is one of the major limiting factors for vancomycin use. The most common histological patterns of kidney injury are acute tubulointerstitial nephritis and acute tubular necrosis. Patients who develop acute tubulointerstitial nephritis are prone to develop acute kidney injury with vancomycin rechallenge and, in most cases, present alone or as a part of Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS). The purpose of the review study is to identify biopsy-proven vancomycin-associated-tubulointerstitial nephritis in literature, determine possible underlying pathophysiology and identify the consequences of vancomycin rechallenge in such patients.

Evaluation of Toxic Properties of New Glycopeptide Flavancin on Rats

Glycopeptide antibiotics have side effects that limit their clinical use. In view of this, the development of glycopeptides with improved chemotherapeutic properties remains the main direction in the search for new antibacterial drugs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicological characteristics of new semi-synthetic glycopeptide flavancin. Acute and chronic toxicity of antibiotic was evaluated in Wistar rats. The medium lethal dose (LD₅₀) and the maximum tolerated doses (MTD) were calculated by the method of Litchfield and Wilcoxon. In the chronic toxicity study, the treatment regimen consisted of 15 daily intraperitoneal injections using two dosage levels: 6 and 10 mg/kg/day. Total doses were equivalent to MTD or LD₅₀ of flavancin, respectively. The study included assessment of the body weight, hematological parameters, blood biochemical parameters, urinalysis, and pathomorphological evaluation of the internal organs. The results of the study demonstrated that no clinical-laboratory signs of toxicity were found after 15 daily injections of flavancin at a total dose close to the MTD or LD₅₀. The pathomorphological study did not reveal any lesions on the organ structure of animals after low-dose administration of flavancin. Thus, flavancin favorably differs in terms of toxicological properties from the glycopeptides currently used in the clinic.

Kidney biopsy findings in vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury: a pooled analysis

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury represents a major adverse effect of vancomycin administration. The aim of the present study is to accumulate all biopsy-proven cases of vancomycin nephrotoxicity and assess the association of histopathological features with renal prognosis.

METHODS

Medline, Scopus, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Clinicaltrials.gov were systematically searched from inception to 29 September 2020. All case reports/series providing individual data of patients with biopsy-proven vancomycin nephrotoxicity were held eligible. A time-to-event analysis was performed evaluating the effects of histological diagnosis on renal recovery.

RESULTS

Overall, 18 studies were included, comprising 21 patients. Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis was the predominant pattern in 9 patients and was associated with a significantly higher risk of permanent renal dysfunction (HR: 5.08, 95% CI: [1.05-24.50)] compared to acute tubular necrosis. Tubulitis and eosinophilic infiltration were the most common histopathological findings, while interstitial fibrosis was linked to significantly worse renal prognosis (HR: 5.55, 95% CI: 1.13-27.27). Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy features were non-specific. Obstruction by tubular casts composed of vancomycin aggregates and uromodulin has been identified as a new mechanism of nephrotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute tubular necrosis and tubulointerstitial nephritis represent the main histological patterns of vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury. The presence of fibrosis in the context of interstitial inflammation may be linked to lower recovery rates and worse long-term renal outcomes. A novel cast nephropathy obstructive mechanism has been suggested, necessitating further confirmation. Large-scale studies should define the exact indications of kidney biopsy in cases with suspected vancomycin nephrotoxicity.

Relationship of vancomycin trough levels with acute kidney injury risk: an exposure–toxicity meta-analysis

Objectives

Nephrotoxicity represents a major complication of vancomycin administration, leading to high rates of morbidity and treatment failure. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between trough levels and risk of renal impairment, by defining an exposure–toxicity relationship and assessing its accuracy in predicting the development of acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods

Medline, Scopus, CENTRAL, Clinicaltrials.gov and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched from inception. Studies examining the effects of trough levels on nephrotoxicity risk in adult patients were deemed eligible.

Results

The meta-analysis was based on 60 studies, including 13 304 patients. The development of AKI was significantly linked to both higher initial [standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.82; 95% CI: 0.65–0.98] and maximum (SMD: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.82–1.29) trough levels. Dose–response analysis indicated a curvilinear relationship between trough levels and nephrotoxicity risk (χ2 = 127.1; P value &lt; 0.0001). A cut-off of 15 mg/L detected AKI with a sensitivity of 62.6% (95% CI: 55.6–69.2) and a specificity of 65.5% (95% CI: 58.9–71.6), while applying a 20 mg/L threshold resulted in a sensitivity of 42.9% (95% CI: 34–52.2) and a specificity of 82.5% (95% CI: 73.9–88.8).

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that the development of vancomycin-induced AKI is significantly associated with higher initial and maximum trough levels. An exposure–response relationship was defined, indicating that increasing trough levels correlate with a significant rise of nephrotoxicity risk. Future studies should verify the effectiveness of individualized pharmacokinetic tools that would enable the attainment of trough level targets and minimize the risk of renal toxicity.

Vancomycin nephrotoxicity: Vancomycin tubular casts with characteristic electron microscopic findings

We herein report a 46-year-old man with diabetes who developed acute kidney injury and oliguria after receiving vancomycin to treat his foot infection. Renal biopsy revealed typical features of advanced diabetic nephropathy as well as features of acute vancomycin nephrotoxicity. Several changes typical for acute vancomycin nephrotoxicity, but hitherto not adequately described, were seen. There was an element of acute tubulointerstitial injury associated with frequent tubular casts consisting of typical hyaline casts, pale glassy material suggestive of uromodulin, and distinctive features suggestive of vancomycin deposition. Coprecipitation of vancomycin and uromodulin was confirmed by immunostain. Electron microscopic study showed features supportive for the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy and distinctive concentric appearance of vancomycin tubular casts within the fibrillary background of uromodulin. The patient’s renal function improved rapidly after cessation of vancomycin and initiation of steroid therapy, suggesting that vancomycin-associated tubular injury is potentially reversible over time with proper management.

Vancomycin-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in a Large Veteran Population

BACKGROUND

To determine the association of vancomycin with acute kidney injury (AKI) in relation to its serum concentration value and to examine the risk of AKI in patients treated with vancomycin when compared with a matched cohort of patients receiving non-glycopeptide antibiotics (linezolid/daptomycin).

METHODS

From a cohort of > 3 million US veterans with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2, we identified 33,527 patients who received either intravenous vancomycin (n = 22,057) or non-glycopeptide antibiotics (linezolid/daptomycin, n = 11,470). We examined the association of the serum trough vancomycin level recorded within the first 48 h of administration with subsequent AKI in all patients treated with vancomycin and association of vancomycin vs. non-glycopeptide antibiotics use with the risk of incident AKI.

RESULTS

The overall multivariable adjusted ORs of AKI stages 1, 2, and 3 in patients on vancomycin vs. non-glycopeptides were 1.1 (1.1-1.2), 1.2 (1-1.4), and 1.4 (1.1-1.7), respectively. When examined in strata divided by vancomycin trough level, the odds of AKI were similar or lower in patients receiving vancomycin compared to non-glycopeptide antibiotics as long as serum vancomycin levels were ≤20 mg/L. However, in patients with serum vancomycin levels > 20 mg/L, the ORs of AKI stages 1, 2, and 3 in patients on vancomycin vs. non-glycopeptide antibiotics were 1.5 (1.4-1.7), 1.9 (1.5-2.3), and 2.7 (2-3.5), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Vancomycin use is associated with a higher risk of AKI when serum levels exceed > 20 mg/L.

Teicoplanin-Induced Anaphylactic Reaction in Children: A Case Report

Teicoplanin is now increasingly used as a first-line prophylactic therapy for major surgical procedures, treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections and for those with reported penicillin allergy. Teicoplanin is rarely associated with anaphylaxis and there is limited information on the prevalence of teicoplanin-induced perioperative anaphylaxis. Here, we describe a case of a 12-year-old child with teicoplanin-induced anaphylaxis peri-operatively.

The influence of acute kidney injury on the outcome of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: The prognostic value of KDIGO staging

BACKGROUND

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and SJS/TEN overlap syndrome are severe drug-induced cutaneous adverse reactions with high mortality. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was a common complication in an SJS/TEN group and noted as an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with SJS/TEN. To determine whether AKI staging can predict the outcome of patients with SJS/TEN, we compared the discriminative power of an AKI KDIGO staging system with that of SCROTEN, APACHE II, APACHE III, and SOFA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 75 patients who were diagnosed with SJS, TEN, or SJS/TEN overlap syndrome at a tertiary care university hospital between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2014. The baseline characteristics, biochemical analysis data, medication use, and outcomes of the patients were assessed, and the discriminative ability for predicting mortality was determined for each prognostic model.

RESULTS

Of the 75 patients, 23 (30.7%) had AKI, of whom 13 (56.5%) died during the index admission. Of the prognostic risk models analyzed, the KDIGO staging system showed similar discriminative ability in predicting in-hospital mortality as did the other models. In addition, combining KDIGO with other scoring systems yielded significantly more accurate risk prediction for in-hospital mortality compared with the other individual scores alone, as measured by net reclassification index. The patients with KDIGO stages 2 and 3 exhibited a significantly lower 1-year survival rate than did those with KDIGO stages 0 and 1.

CONCLUSION

AKI KDIGO staging has good discriminative ability and is easy to utilize for predicting mortality.

Drug-induced tubulointerstitial nephritis in a retrospective study using spontaneous reporting system database

Introduction

Tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) is a problem in clinical settings because drug therapy is the cause in most cases. Patients often present with nonspecific symptoms, which can lead to delays in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The purpose of this study was to clarify the rank-order of the association of TIN with the causative drugs using a spontaneous reporting system database.

Materials and methods

Data were extracted from the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (Japan). Based on 5,195,890 reports of all adverse reactions, we obtained 3,088 reports of TIN caused by all drugs and calculated the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and 95% CI for TIN.

Results

The 5 drugs with the highest RORs were gliclazide (ROR, 30.5; 95% CI, 17.4-53.2), tosufloxacin tosilate hydrate (ROR, 29.5; 95% CI, 21.3-41.0), piperacillin-tazobactam (ROR, 24.3; 95% CI, 19.4-30.5), cefteram pivoxil (ROR, 23.5; 95% CI, 12.5-44.2), and mefenamic acid (ROR, 22.5; 95% CI, 13.4-37.7). No sex-related difference was observed in drug-induced TIN. Most of the reports about TIN onset following the administration of culprit drugs were recorded within 12 weeks.

Conclusion

Based on the results, a comprehensive study using a pharmacovigilance database enabled us to identify the dugs that most frequently induced TIN, so these drugs should be used carefully in clinical practice to avoid TIN.

Biopsy-proven vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury: a case report and literature review

Background

Vancomycin is the first-line antibiotic for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative strains. The risk of vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury increases with plasma vancomycin levels. Vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury is histologically characterized by acute interstitial nephritis and/or acute tubular necrosis. However, only 12 biopsy-proven cases of vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury have been reported so far, as renal biopsy is rarely performed for such cases. Current recommendations for the prevention or treatment of vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury are drug monitoring of plasma vancomycin levels using trough level and drug withdrawal. Oral prednisone and high-flux haemodialysis have led to the successful recovery of renal function in some biopsy-proven cases.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 41-year-old man with type 1 diabetes mellitus, who developed vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury during treatment for Fournier gangrene. His serum creatinine level increased to 1020.1 μmol/L from a baseline of 79.6 μmol/L, and his plasma trough level of vancomycin peaked at 80.48 μg/mL. Vancomycin discontinuation and frequent haemodialysis with high-flux membrane were immediately performed following diagnosis. Renal biopsy showed acute tubular necrosis and focal acute interstitial nephritis, mainly in the medullary rays (medullary ray injury). There was no sign of glomerulonephritis, but mild diabetic changes were detected. He was discharged without continuing haemodialysis (serum creatinine level, 145.0 μmol/L) 49 days after initial vancomycin administration.

Conclusions

This case suggests that frequent haemodialysis and renal biopsy could be useful for the treatment and assessment of vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury, particularly in high-risk cases or patients with other renal disorders.

The Nephrotoxicity of Vancomycin

Vancomycin use is often associated with nephrotoxicity. It remains uncertain, however, to what extent vancomycin is directly responsible, as numerous potential risk factors for acute kidney injury frequently coexist. Herein, we critically examine available data in adult patients pertinent to this question. We review the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of vancomycin metabolism. Efficacy and safety data are discussed. The pathophysiology of vancomycin nephrotoxicity is considered. Risk factors for nephrotoxicity are enumerated, including the potential synergistic nephrotoxicity of vancomycin and piperacillin‐tazobactam. Suggestions for clinical practice and future research are given.

Vancomycin and the Risk of AKI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Vancomycin has been in use for more than half a century, but whether it is truly nephrotoxic and to what extent are still highly controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of AKI attributable to intravenous vancomycin.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We conducted a systematic review of randomized, controlled trials and cohort studies that compared patients treated with intravenous vancomycin with a control group of patients given a comparator nonglycopeptide antibiotic and in which kidney function or kidney injury outcomes were reported. PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched from 1990 to September of 2015. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed study risk of bias, and one reviewer adjudicated the assessments. A meta-analysis was conducted on seven randomized, controlled trials (total of 4033 patients).

RESULTS

Moderate quality evidence suggested that vancomycin treatment is associated with a higher risk of AKI, with a relative risk of 2.45 (95% confidence interval, 1.69 to 3.55). The risk of kidney injury was similar in patients treated for skin and soft tissue infections compared with those treated for nosocomial pneumonia and other complicated infections. There was an uncertain risk of reporting bias, because kidney function was not a prespecified outcome in any of the trials. The preponderance of evidence was judged to be indirect, because the majority of studies compared vancomycin specifically with linezolid.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that there is a measurable risk of AKI associated with vancomycin, but the strength of the evidence is moderate. A randomized, controlled trial designed to study kidney function as an outcome would be needed to draw unequivocal conclusions.

Review of vancomycin-induced renal toxicity: an update

In recent times the use of larger doses of vancomycin aimed at curbing the increasing incidence of resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus has led to a wider report of acute kidney injury (AKI). Apart from biological plausibility, causality is implied by the predictive association of AKI with larger doses, longer duration, and graded plasma concentrations of vancomycin. AKI is more likely to occur with the concurrent use of nephrotoxic agents, and in critically ill patients who are susceptible to poor renal perfusion. Although most vancomycin-induced AKI cases are mild and therefore reversible, their occurrence may be associated with greater incidence of end-stage kidney disease and higher mortality rate. The strategy for its prevention includes adequate renal perfusion and therapeutic drug monitoring in high-risk individuals. In the near future, there is feasibility of renoprotective use of antioxidative substances in the delivery of vancomycin.

Immune-mediated reactions to vancomycin: A systematic case review and analysis

BACKGROUND

Vancomycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic whose use may be limited by adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Although vancomycin toxic effects are known, there are limited data on vancomycin hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs).

OBJECTIVE

To understand the most commonly reported vancomycin HSRs through systematic case review.

METHODS

We performed a literature search for English-language case reports and series from 1982 through 2015 (last search July 31, 2015) on Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed. The search included the subject heading vancomycin with the subheading adverse effects and separate text searches for vancomycin with a list of specified HSRs. References of identified articles were reviewed to find additional articles. Clinical data were collected and summarized.

RESULTS

Of 201 identified articles, 84 were screened and 57 fully assessed; these 57 articles contained 71 vancomycin HSR cases that were included in analysis. Vancomycin HSRs were immediate (anaphylaxis, n = 7) and nonimmediate (n = 64). Nonimmediate HSRs included linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD, n = 34), drug rash eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome (n = 16), acute interstitial nephritis (AIN, n = 8), and Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN, n = 6). Median times of vancomycin therapy before HSR onset was 7 days (interquartile range [IQR], 4-10 days) for LABD, 9 days (IQR, 9-22 days) for SJS/TEN, 21 days (IQR, 17-28 days) for DRESS syndrome, and 26 days (IQR, 7-29 days) for AIN. Overall, 11 patients (16%) died, and 4 (6%) had deaths attributed to the HSR.

CONCLUSION

Vancomycin causes a variety of HSRs; the most commonly identified were nonimmediate HSRs, with LABD being most frequent. We observed a high frequency of HSR mortality. Further data are needed to understand the frequency and severity of vancomycin HSRs.

Two cases with HSS/DRESS syndrome developing after prosthetic joint surgery: does vancomycin-laden bone cement play a role in this syndrome?

We report two cases of hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (HSS/DRESS) syndrome following systemic and local (via antibiotic laden bone cement (ALBC)) exposures to vancomycin. Both cases developed symptoms 2-4 weeks after the initiation of treatment. They responded to systemic corticosteroid treatment and were cured completely. Various drug groups may cause HSS/DRESS syndrome, and vancomycin-related cases do not exceed 2-5% of the reported cases. Almost all of these cases developed the syndrome following systemic exposure to vancomycin. ALBC seems to be the safer antibiotic administration method, as systemic antibiotic levels did not reach a toxic threshold level. However, local administration may not always be sufficient for bone-related/joint-related infections; these infections may require systemic antibiotics as well. As HSS/DRESS syndrome can mimic infectious diseases, it must be considered during differential diagnosis before suspecting failure of treatment and initiation of a different antibiotic course.

Biopsy-proven vancomycin-associated interstitial nephritis and acute tubular necrosis

Fewer than ten biopsy-proven case reports exist on vancomycin-associated interstitial nephritis (VAIN) and vancomycin-associated acute tubular necrosis (VAATN). Among these, several are confounded by the use of other potentially offending drugs. We report a case of isolated VAIN/VAATN in a patient on no other potentially nephrotoxic agents other than vancomycin. The patient received intravenous vancomycin for coagulase-negative staphylococcus bacteremia. Her baseline serum creatinine of 0.9 mg/dL increased to 9.6 mg/dL after 1 week of therapy during which vancomycin levels peaked at 141 μg/mL. Renal biopsy revealed acute interstitial nephritis with lymphocytic and eosinophilic infiltrate and acute tubular necrosis. Upon discontinuation of vancomycin and administration of prednisone complete renal recovery ensued over a period of 4 weeks.

DRESS with delayed onset acute interstitial nephritis and profound refractory eosinophilia secondary to Vancomycin

Background

Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) is a relatively rare clinical entity; even more so in response to vancomycin.

Methods

Case report.

Results

We present a severe case of vancomycin-induced DRESS syndrome, which on presentation included only skin, hematological and mild liver involvement. The patient further developed severe acute interstitial nephritis, eosinophilic pneumonitis, central nervous system (CNS) involvement and worsening hematological abnormalities despite immediate discontinuation of vancomycin and parenteral corticosteroids. High-dose corticosteroids for a prolonged period were necessary and tapering of steroids a challenge due to rebound-eosinophilia and skin involvement.

Conclusion

Patients with DRESS who are relatively resistant to corticosteroids with delayed onset of certain organ involvement should be treated with a more prolonged corticosteroid tapering schedule. Vancomycin is increasingly being recognized as a culprit agent in this syndrome.

[Glycopeptide-induced cutaneous adverse reaction: results of an immunoallergic investigation in eight patients]

BACKGROUND

Vancomycin (V) and teicoplanin (T) are glycopeptides used in severe infections and can induce different kinds of cutaneous adverse reactions (CAR).

AIMS

To determine the value of immunoallergic investigations in CAR in which glycopeptides are suspected.

METHODS

Retrospective study (2000-2007) in eight patients with CAR suspected of being caused by glycopeptides. Six weeks after abatement of the reaction, in accordance with ESCD's guideline for drug testing, immunoallergic skin tests investigations were carried out (drug patch-tests, prick-tests and intradermal tests) in succession for all the drugs taken during the CAR. If negative, a glycopeptide challenge was proposed.

RESULTS

The study included eight patients (five women, three men; mean age=53); three patients presented a reaction to vancomycin, four reacted to teicoplanin and one reacted to both drugs. CARs consisted of six maculopapular rashes, one case of DRESS and one of urticaria. Skin tests confirmed involvement of glycopeptides in four of eight cases with cross-reactivity between V and T in two patients. Four patients exhibited good tolerance to rechallenge tests with glycopeptides.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that skin tests may be useful in glycopeptide-induced CAR in determining the responsible drug and also in the event of rechallenge. Allergic cross-reactivity (V and T), observed in two of our patients, although already been reported in the literature, but does not occur systematically.

Tolerability of teicoplanin in 117 hospitalized adults with previous vancomycin-induced fever, rash, or neutropenia: a retrospective chart review

BACKGROUND

Vancomycin has reliable antibacterial activity against many gram-positive pathogens but is associated with many adverse events. Teicoplanin, another glycopeptide, is associated with fewer adverse events, but its use in patients with previous vancomycin-induced adverse reactions remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this work were to evaluate the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with vancomycin-induced fever (ie, drug fever), rash, or neutropenia and to examine the tolerability of teicoplanin in these patients.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of the medical charts of patients aged >or=18 years who were hospitalized between January 2002 and October 2007 at National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Tainan, Taiwan. Patients were included if they experienced drug-induced fever (ie, "drug fever"), rash, or neutropenia during vancomycin treatment. Their antimicrobial therapy was subsequently switched to teicoplanin. Clinical information and the development of drug fever, rash, or neutropenia with teicoplanin were determined from the charts.

RESULTS

Antibiotic therapy was switched to teicoplanin in 117 patients with vancomycin-induced fever alone (n = 24), rash alone (n = 77), both drug fever and rash (n = 8), or neutropenia (n = 8). The mean (SD) age of these patients was 53.1 (22.8) years, and 65 (56%) were male. The major clinical indications for vancomycin therapy among these patients were wound infections (21%), respiratory tract infections (14%), and bacteremia (13%). The dosages for vancomycin ranged from 1 g every 5 days to 1 g BID, and for teicoplanin ranged from 400 mg daily to 400 mg q72h, adjusted by the degree of renal dysfunction. Overall, 12 patients with vancomycin-induced fever (n = 2), rash (n = 6), or neutropenia (n = 4) subsequently developed teicoplanin-induced fever (n = 3), rash (n = 3), or neutropenia (n = 6). Specifically, of 8 patients with vancomycin-induced neutropenia, 4 (50%) subsequently developed neutropenia after switching to teicoplanin. Vancomycin- and teicoplanin-induced neutropenia was often noted after 1 week of treatment. Among patients with vancomycin-induced fever, rash, or neutropenia, there were no differences between patients with or without teicoplanin-induced fever, rash, or neutropenia in terms of age, sex, weight, dosage or duration of vancomycin therapy, dosage of teicoplanin, or underlying disease. There was no difference in mortality rates between patients with or without teicoplanin-induced fever, rash, or neutropenia. The cause of all deaths was progression of infectious or underlying disease, unrelated to vancomycin or teicoplanin use.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this retrospective chart review of hospitalized patients with vancomycin-induced fever, rash, or neutropenia, only 10% experienced subsequent teicoplanin-induced fever, rash, or neutropenia. However, it should be noted that half of the patients with vancomycin-induced neutropenia developed teicoplanin-induced neutropenia.

Biopsy proven acute tubular necrosis associated with vancomycin in a child: case report and literature review

Vancomycin-related nephrotoxicity typically manifests as acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. The drug does appear, however, to increase the nephrotoxicity of concurrently administered aminoglycosides. The extent of direct tubular toxicity attributable to vancomycin, especially in the absence of aminoglycoside treatment, does not appear to have been previously described. We report a case of biopsy-proven acute tubular necrosis secondary to vancomycin toxicity in a 13-year-old boy where there was no likely alternate explanation for toxic or ischemic injury. No hemodialysis was required, and the patient made a full recovery with subsequently regained renal function.

Four cases of nafcillin-associated acute interstitial nephritis in one institution

BACKGROUND

Over the course of 1 year, four patients in a single institution developed acute kidney injury most likely secondary to nafcillin-associated acute interstitial nephritis, indicating that this complication might not be as rare as is commonly believed. The main case presented here is that of a 73-year-old man with a history of chronic low back pain who presented with worsening back pain, as well as nausea, vomiting and volume depletion. Imaging studies revealed a soft tissue abscess in the left psoas major muscle.

INVESTIGATIONS

Physical examination, complete urine analysis, blood and urine cultures, measurement of peripheral eosinophil and plasma creatinine levels, and renal ultrasound.

DIAGNOSIS

Nafcillin-associated acute interstitial nephritis.

MANAGEMENT

Discontinuation of nafcillin and provision of supportive care.

[Cutaneous drug reactions induced by glycopeptides]

Glycopeptides are a class of antibiotics used with a rising frequency because of the increasing number of infections due to Methicillin-resistant staphylococci. The dermatological adverse effect of vancomycin are well-known: "red man syndrome", maculopapular exanthema, etc., with some distinctive features such as Ig A linear dermatosis. Drug eruptions are less common but not insignificant when using teicoplanin, a more recent molecule. A given glycopeptide cannot be considered as an alternative for every patient "allergic" to another, because of cases of cross-reaction and the morbi-mortality of some cutaneous drug reactions. This emphasizes the importance to recognize early clinical signs. In this article, we review the various dermatological adverse drug reactions induced by glycopeptides, and suggest a possible management to clinicians who could be confronted with this problem.

A case of hypersensitivity syndrome to both vancomycin and teicoplanin

Drug hypersensitivity syndrome to both vancomycin and teicoplanin has not been previously reported. We describe here a 50-yr-old male patient with vertebral osteomyelitis and epidural abscess who developed hypersensitivity syndrome to both vancomycin and teicoplanin. Skin rash, fever, eosinophilia, interstitial pneumonitis, and interstitial nephritis developed following the administration of each drug, and resolved after withdrawing the drugs and treating with high dose corticosteroids. The vertebral osteomyelitis was successfully treated with 6-week course of linezolid without further complications. Skin patch tests for vancomycin and teicoplanin was done 2 months after the recovery; a weak positive result for vancomycin (10% aq.,+at D2 and +at D4 with erythema and vesicles; ICDRG scale), and a doubtful result for teicoplanin (4% aq.-at D2 and+/-at D4 with macular erythema; ICDRG scale). We present this case to alert clinicians to the hypersensitivity syndrome that can result from vancomycin and teicoplanin, with possible cross-reactivity, which could potentially be life-threatening.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with denileukin diftitox (DAB389IL-2) administration in a patient with follicular large cell lymphoma

Denileukin diftitox (DAB(389)IL-2 or Ontak) is a synthetic fusion protein with demonstrated efficacy in a number of lymphoproliferative disorders, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We report the case of a 45-year-old man with progressive follicular large cell lymphoma following an autologous stem cell transplant treated with denileukin diftitox who developed a fatal skin rash associated with extensive erythema, edema and large bullae involving his entire body. The clinical features and pathology were compatible with toxic epidermal necrolysis. This is the first reported case of toxic epidermal necrolysis in the literature associated with denileukin diftitox.

Probable vancomycin-associated toxic epidermal necrolysis

A 52-year-old man with no previous drug allergies or skin disorders developed a widespread papulovesicular rash while receiving an antimicrobial regimen of piperacillin-tazobactam, tobramycin, and vancomycin. Skin biopsy suggested leukocytoclastic vasculitis, which responded well to antibiotic discontinuation and steroid therapy. Fifteen days later, during steroid tapering, an additional course of vancomycin was begun for suspected line infection. The subsequent maculopapular rash that developed was diagnosed as toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) based on a second skin biopsy and clinical presentation. This case is consistent with previous reports of vancomycin-associated TEN. Any patient who develops TEN while receiving vancomycin therapy should be evaluated for possible vancomycin-induced TEN.