[Sulbactam/ampicillin-induced pneumonitis]

We report on two patients with sulbactam/ampicillin (SBT/ABPC)-induced pneumonitis. Both patients were being treated with SBT/ABPC for respiratory-tract infections. Following the initiation of SBT/ABPC chemotherapy, however, chest X-ray films showed a shift of shadow in patient 1 and new pulmonary infiltration shadows in patient 2. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) findings showed a marked increase in the total cell count and percentage of eosinophils in patient 1 and of lymphocytes in patient 2. The results of lymphocyte stimulation tests were SBT/ABPC positive for both patients. SBT/ABPC therapy was therefore discontinued and corticosteroid therapy started. Both patients were subsequently relieved of their symptoms demonstrated significantly lower and pulmonary infiltrate levels. Based on these findings, both patients were given a diagnosis of SBT/ABPC-induced pneumonitis. It has been widely reported that CD 4/CD 8 ratio in BALF decreases in cases of drug-induced pneumonitis. However, some reports have cited increase in the CD 4/CD 8 ratio. In our two patients as well, the CD 4/CD 8 ratio increased. These results, together with the findings from several other case reports, indicate that the CD 4/CD 8 ratio may not be good basis for diagnosing drug-induced pneumonitis. Recently, the incidence of drug-induced pneumonitis has been rising. To our knowledge this is the first report documenting cases of SBT/ABPC-induced pneumonitis.