International Journal of Drug Research and Technology

CEFEPIME INDUCED ENCEPHALOPATHY: NATURAL COURSE AND SYMPTOMS OF TWO PATIENTS

Abstract

Stephen Balise, Lauren Tolat, Lawrence Jun Leung, Jaime A. Pineda and Carlos Marroquin

Intensive care units are breeding grounds for resistant organisms, necessitating early and aggressive anti-microbial therapy. Cefepime is a fourth generation cephalosporin known for its extended spectrum of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, more so than any other drug in its class. Widespread utility can also be attributed to the fact it is an antipseudomonal agent; cefepime is carefully reserved to treat severe infections and cases with known multidrug resistance. A key characteristic that serves to differentiate cefepime among other cephalosporins is its ability to resist degradation by beta-lactamases; making cefepime a front-line agent for treating Enterobacteriaceae.