Welcome to visit Zhongnan Medical Journal Press Series journal website!

Home Articles New Online Detail

Acute intestinal obstruction in a child by intravenous sequential administration of ceftriaxone and ceftazidime:a case report

Published on Apr. 27, 2026Total Views: 14 times Total Downloads: 1 times Download Mobile

Author: YAN Li 1 SHAO Gang 2 ZHOU Mi 3

Affiliation: 1. Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Asia General Hospital, Wuhan 430056, China 2. Department of Pediatrics, Wuhan Asia General Hospital, Wuhan 430056, China 3. Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, Jiangsu Province, China

Keywords: Ceftriaxone Ceftazidime Intravenous Acute intestinal obstruction Children Adverse drug reaction

  • Abstract
  • Full-text
  • References
Abstract

A 3-year-11-month-old male child with asthmatic bronchopneumonia developed symptoms such as increased flatus, dysuria, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain approximately 1 h after administration of ceftriaxone for injection. Intestinal obstruction was confirmed by abdominal X-ray and abdominal CT scan. After discontinuation of ceftriaxone, a cleansing enema was performed; a large number of loose stools were passed, and symptoms of abdominal distension and pain were relieved. Subsequently, the treatment was switched to ceftazidime for injection. About 1 h after ceftazidime administration, significant abdominal distension recurred. The drug was discontinued, and enema treatment was administered, with relief of abdominal distension. Finally, the treatment was switched to oral cefaclor suspension, and no recurrence of abdominal distension, abdominal pain, or other symptoms was observed. Ceftriaxone and ceftazidime were both evaluated for their association with acute intestinal obstruction using Naranjo’s Assessment Scale, and the results were “probably related” for both drugs. This case suggests that ceftriaxone and ceftazidime may induce acute intestinal obstruction in children, which should arouse great clinical attention.

Full-text
Please download the PDF version to read the full text: download
References

1. Wacharachaisurapol N, Jitrungruengnij N, Janewongwirot P, et al. High prescribing rates of third-generation cephalosporins in children hospitalized with acute lower respiratory infections at a university hospital[J]. Int J Infect Dis, 2021, 102: 369-374. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.10.105.

2. Tanaka Y, Oishi T, Ono S, et al. Epidemiology of urinary tract infections in children: causative bacteria and antimicrobial therapy[J]. Pediatr Int, 2021, 63(10): 1198-1204. DOI: 10.1111/ped.14639.

3. 李振凯. 急性小肠梗阻手术决策评分系统的建立[D]. 江苏苏州: 苏州大学, 2024. DOI: 10.27351/d.cnki.gszhu.2024.000111.

4. Shavit I, Levy N, Dreznik Y, et al. Practice variation in the management of pediatric intussusception: a narrative review[J]. Eur J Pediat, 2024, 183(11): 4897-4904. DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05759-1.

5. Spiro DM, Arnold DH, Barbone F. Association between antibiotic use and primary idiopathic intussusception[J]. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2003, 157(1): 54-59. DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.157.1.54.

6. Cuzzolin L, Oggiano AM, Clemente MG, et al. Ceftriaxone-associated biliary pseudolithiasis in children: do we know enough?[J]. Fundam Clin Pharmacol, 2021, 35(1): 40-52. DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12577.

7. Naranjo CA, Busto U, Sellers EM, et al. A method for estimating the probability of adverse drug reactions[J]. Clin Pharmacol Ther, 1981, 30(2): 239-245. DOI: 10.1038/clpt.1981.154.

8. Miholic J, Weninger M, Helmer F, et al. Antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis as cause of intestinal obstruction in a five-day-old newborn[J]. Padiatr Padol, 1986, 21(2): 183-187. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3737223/.

9. 肖章武, 廖达林, 倪铭孔, 等. 抗生素相关性肠炎致肠梗阻一例分析[J]. 临床误诊误治, 2010, 23(3): 289. [Xiao ZW, Liao DL, Ni MK, et al. Analysis of a case of intestinal obstruction caused by antibiotic-associated colitis[J]. Clinical Misdiagnosis & Mistherapy, 2010, 23(3): 289.] DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1002-3429. 2010.03.062.

10. 孙高中, 李增男, 沈锦盛, 等. 亚胺培南西司他丁钠致假性肠梗阻1例[J]. 人民军医, 2016, 59(6): 576. [Sun GZ, Li ZN, Shen JS, et al. One case of pseudo-intestinal obstruction caused by imipenem and cilastatin sodium[J]. People's Military Surgeon, 2016, 59(6): 576.] https://d.wanfangdata.com.cn/periodical/CiBQZXJpb2RpY2FsQ0hJU29scjkyMDI2MDMwNjE2NTI1NxINcm1qeTIwMTYwNjAyMxoIandoYmF1Y2E%3D.

11. 张丽, 何忠芳, 郭小冬, 等. 莫西沙星致不完全性肠梗阻1例[J]. 医药导报, 2024, 43(5): 283-285. [Zhang L, He ZF, Guo XD, et al. One case of incomplete intestinal obstruction caused by moxifloxacin[J]. Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice, 2024, 43(5): 283-285.] DOI: 10.3870/j.issn.1004-0781.2024.05.027.

12. Borriello SP. Possible mechanisms of action of antimicrobial agent-associated gastrointestinal symptoms[J]. Postgrad Med J, 1992, 68(suppl 3): S38-S42. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1287617/.

13. Jessen KR, Mirsky R, Dennison ME, et al. GABA may be a neurotransmitter in the vertebrate peripheral nervous system[J]. Nature, 1979, 281: 71-74. DOI: 10.1038/281071a0.

14. Auteri M, Zizzo MG, Serio R. GABA and GABA receptors in the gastrointestinal tract: from motility to inflammation[J]. Pharmacol Res, 2015, 93: 11-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2014.12.001.

15. Spiro DM, Arnold DH, Barbone F. Association between antibiotic use and primary idiopathic intussusception[J]. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2003, 157(1): 54-59. DOI: 10.1001/archpedi.157.1.54.

16. Ceran C, Karadas B, Kaya T, et al. Do antibiotics contribute to postoperative ileus? Contractile responses of ileum smooth muscle in Guinea pigs to long-term parenteral ceftriaxone and ampicillin[J]. ANZ J Surg, 2006, 76(11): 1023-1026. DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2006.03922.x.

17. 中华人民共和国国家卫生健康委员会. β内酰胺类抗菌药物皮肤试验指导原则(2021年版)[J].中国实用乡村医生杂志, 2021, 28(5): 1-4. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-7185.2021.05.001.

18. Brockow K, Pfützner W, Wedi B, et al. Recommendations on how to proceed in case of suspected allergy to penicillin/β-lactam antibiotics: Position paper of the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI) in cooperation with the German Society for Pediatric Allergology (GPA), Austrian Society for Allergology and Immunology (ÖGAI) and the Swiss Society for Allergology and Immunology (SGAI)[J]. Allergol Select, 2025, 9: 28-39. DOI: 10.5414/ALX02531E.

19. Mirakian R, Leech SC, Krishna MT, et al. Management of allergy to penicillins and other beta-lactams[J]. Clin Exp Allergy, 2015, 45(2): 300-327. DOI: 10.1111/cea.12468.

20. Stone CA Jr, Trubiano JA, Phillips EJ. Testing strategies and predictors for evaluating immediate and delayed reactions to cephalosporins[J]. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract, 2021, 9(1): 435-444. e13. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.07.056.

21. 顾雯雯, 张蕾. 2019~2023年某院所上报的抗菌药物相关药物不良反应的临床特点分析[J]. 抗感染药学, 2024, 21(11): 1108-1112. [Gu WW, Zhang L. Analysis of clinical characteristics of adverse drug reactions related to antibacterial drugs reported by a hospital from 2019 to 2023[J]. Anti-Infection Pharmacy, 2024, 21(11): 1108-1112.] DOI: 10.13493/j.issn.1672-7878.2024.11-005.

22. 郭丽群, 吴海丹, 徐国忠. 2018~2022年医院抗菌药物致不良反应情况分析[J]. 中国现代药物应用, 2025, 19(2): 153-156. [Guo LQ, Wu HD, Xu GZ. Analysis of adverse reactions caused by antibiotics in hospitals from 2018 to 2022[J]. Chinese Journal of Modern Drug Application, 2025, 19(2): 153-156.] DOI: 10.14164/j.cnki.cn11-5581/r.2025.02.042.

23. 黄献川, 黄惠娇, 谢丽君, 等. 药品不良反应814例分析及防治对策[J].福建医药杂志, 2022, 44(4): 19-23. [Huang XC, Huang HJ, Xie LJ, et al. Analysis of 814 cases of adverse drug reactions and countermeasures[J]. Fujian Medical Journal, 2022, 44(4): 19-23.] DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1002-2600.2022.04.007.

Popular papers
Last 6 months