Cefuroxime-induced fever.

OBJECTIVE

To report on three patients with cefuroxime-induced fever.

CASE SUMMARIES

Recurrence of fever was noted in three patients after five to seven days of cefuroxime sodium therapy for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. No source of infection was found and the fevers resolved within 30 hours of drug discontinuation. One patient was rechallenged; the same pattern of fever resulted.

DISCUSSION

Fever secondary to cephalosporin administration is reviewed and the place of cephalosporins in the differential diagnosis of fever is postulated.

CONCLUSIONS

Cefuroxime should be added to the list of cephalosporins that induce fever.