Occupational asthma due to ceftazidime

A worker employed in the manufacture of the new third generation cephalosporin antibiotic, ceftazidime, developed asthmatic symptoms, and a series of inhalation challenge tests was undertaken to investigate the problem. The inhalation of increasing daily doses of ceftazidime up to 3.2 mg, using a double-blind challenge protocol gave rise to symptoms, late asthmatic reactions, and increases in airway responsiveness to methacholine. A repeat challenge with the 3.2 mg dose additionally gave rise to a clear immediate reaction. Ceftazidime was, thus, shown to be capable of inducing occupational asthma.