Hypoprothrombinemia associated with cefoperazone treatment

Area of Science:

• Internal Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Hematology

Background:

• Gram-negative septicemia and acute renal failure are serious conditions.
• Parenteral antibiotic therapy is often required for severe infections.
• Coagulation disorders can complicate critical illness and its treatment.

Observation:

• A patient with acute renal failure and gram-negative septicemia developed hypoprothrombinemia.
• This coagulation defect occurred during treatment with the antibiotic cefoperazone.
• The patient's hypoprothrombinemia resolved after vitamin K administration.

Findings:

• The study presents a multifactorial pathogenetic mechanism for vitamin K deficiency.
• This deficiency was observed in the context of parenteral antibiotic treatment.
• Cefoperazone therapy was associated with the development of hypoprothrombinemia.

Implications:

• Vitamin K supplementation may be crucial for patients receiving parenteral antibiotics, especially those with renal failure or sepsis.
• Understanding the mechanisms of antibiotic-induced coagulopathy is important for patient management.
• This case highlights the need for monitoring coagulation parameters during treatment for severe infections.