Antimicrobial neurotoxicity: an under-recognised cause of delirium

Antimicrobial neurotoxicity: an under-recognised cause of delirium

Antimicrobial associated encephalopathy (AAE) is a well-documented, though under recognised, adverse event associated with antimicrobial use.1 Clinical manifestations of AAE are varied, ranging from myoclonus and seizure to an encephalopathy with cerebellar signs.1 The phenotypic presentation of the encephalopathy syndrome is, in general, governed by the antimicrobial in question. Given its apparent rarity in everyday clinical practice, awareness of AAE is crucial for physicians. We describe a reversible encephalopathy characterised by confusion, myoclonus and stupor in a 76 year old gentleman on antimicrobial therapy for a peri-rectal abscess.

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Antimicrobial neurotoxicity: an under-recognised cause of delirium

9th June 2022
PMID: 35681187
Authors Affiliations
David Moynan Department of Infectious Diseases, Beaumont, Dublin
Emad Maqbool Department of Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Beaumont, Dublin
Eoghan de Barra Department of Infectious Diseases, Beaumont, Dublin

Antimicrobial neurotoxicity: an under-recognised cause of delirium

Cite this article as:

Moynan D, Maqbool E, de Barra E. Antimicrobial neurotoxicity: an under-recognised cause of delirium. Acute Med. 2022;21(2):115-116. doi: 10.52964/AMJA.0908. PMID: 35681187.

Antimicrobial neurotoxicity: an under-recognised cause of delirium

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