Abstract
Ceftriaxone is a widely-used cephalosporin with advantageous pharmacokinetic properties and a broad antimicrobial spectrum. We report a case of ceftriaxone-induced neurotoxicity in a 61-year-old woman on hemodialysis. After normal-dose ceftriaxone was administered daily for 5 days to treat phlegmon of the cheek, the patient developed impaired consciousness, systemic myoclonus, and disorientation. Brain MRI and examinations for blood and cerebrospinal fluid were conducted with neurologists, but the cause was not detected. The symptoms disappeared shortly after withdrawal of CTRX. Finally, the patient was diagnosed as Ceftriaxone-associated epilepticus. Ceftriaxone is a safe antibiotic for patients with renal insufficiency, as it is excreted through hepatic pathways. Dentists should consider that antibiotic-associated encephalopathy may develop with ceftriaxone administration in patients, especially those complicated with renal dysfunction.
