Ampicillin-Sulbactam-Induced Liver Injury in a Pediatric Patient

Corey Fowler1, Katie Namtu1

  • 1Department of Pharmacy (CF, KN), Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL.

Insights

Ampicillin-sulbactam can cause rare drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in children. Prompt discontinuation of this antibiotic led to rapid improvement in liver function tests (LFTs) in a pediatric patient.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hepatology
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Adverse Drug Reactions

Background:

  • Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an uncommon adverse drug reaction (ADR) in pediatric populations.
  • Limited case reports document ampicillin-sulbactam-associated liver injury.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare case of ampicillin-sulbactam-induced liver injury in a pediatric patient.
  • To highlight the clinical presentation and management of this specific ADR.

Main Methods:

  • A case report of a 12-year-old male patient who developed liver injury after ampicillin-sulbactam administration.
  • Clinical monitoring of liver function tests (LFTs), including serum aminotransferases and bilirubin.

Main Results:

  • The patient exhibited elevated serum aminotransferases and bilirubin, indicative of liver injury.
  • Discontinuation of ampicillin-sulbactam resulted in a rapid normalization of LFTs.

Conclusions:

  • Ampicillin-sulbactam can be a cause of DILI in pediatric patients.
  • Early recognition and withdrawal of the offending agent are crucial for recovery from ampicillin-sulbactam-induced liver injury.