ARDS after Treatment with Betalactam Antibiotics in Children

Overview

Authors refer to a not much known cause of ARDS as an adverse reaction in treatment with betalactamantibiotics. In 1997 - 1998 691 children were treated in our ICU. We found in 25 cases elevated level of antibodiesagainst betalactam antibiotics. Indication for examination of antibody levels were an X-ray picture of wet lung,concurrent administration of betalactam antibiotics and sometimes a positive allergic history. Antibodies weredetermined by the method of indirect haemaglutination with a level of 1 : 320 and more being a positive finding.In these cases antibiotic treatment was changed to other antibiotics. We found regression of the X-ray finding in20 cases, 5 children died. Histological investigation for evaluation of immunocomplexes C3 and IgG in the alveolarwall was made immediately post mortem. Imunofluorescent findings were positive in 4 cases. The authorsrecommend in case of deterioration of pulmonary changes to evaluate antibody levels and to replace betalactamantibiotics by other antibiotics.

Key words:
betalactam antibiotics, level of antibodies against betalactam antibiotics, adverse effect of antibio-