Cefepime antibiotic linked to higher mortality risk in new study

cefepime antibiotic mortality beta-lactam antibiotics clinical trial meta-analysis febrile neutropenia

A global meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open has linked the commonly used antibiotic cefepime to a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to other beta-lactam antibiotics. The study reviewed 110 randomized clinical trials involving more than 22,000 patients.

Across all trials, 6.6% of the 11,726 patients receiving cefepime died within approximately 30 days of treatment, compared to 6.2% of those receiving a different antibiotic. Using Bayesian statistical methods, researchers found a 94.4% probability of this association, which rose to 98.6% when the analysis was limited to 73 peer-reviewed published trials.

The mortality association was most pronounced in adults and in patients treated for febrile neutropenia, while the link was not clearly present in children. Researchers estimated a “number needed to harm” of 227 across all trials, meaning roughly one additional death for every 227 patients treated with cefepime instead of a comparable antibiotic.

Despite these findings, researchers are not recommending that doctors stop using the drug. Instead, they are calling for more research and clearer dosing guidance. Some experts suggest the issue may stem from dosing rather than the medication itself.

Entities

Cefepime · Cefepime · Dr. Zahra N. Sohani · Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont · JAMA Network Open · Mayo Clinic · Zahra N. Sohani

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Among 11,726 patients receiving cefepime, 778 died (6.6%) within approximately 30 days, compared to 6.2% of patients receiving a different antibiotic. offthepress.com · dailyhealthpost.com · nypost.com
[● 3 SOURCES] There is a 94.4% probability that cefepime is associated with higher all-cause mortality across all trials. offthepress.com · dailyhealthpost.com · nypost.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The mortality association was stronger in adults than in children and most pronounced in patients treated for febrile neutropenia. offthepress.com · dailyhealthpost.com · nypost.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Researchers are calling for more research and clearer dosing guidance rather than recommending that doctors stop using cefepime. dailyhealthpost.com · offthepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] A meta-analysis of 110 randomized clinical trials involving over 22,000 patients found cefepime is associated with higher all-cause mortality compared to other beta-lactam antibiotics. offthepress.com · dailyhealthpost.com · nypost.com
[● 3 SOURCES] When limited to 73 peer-reviewed published trials, the probability of association with higher mortality rose to 98.6%. offthepress.com · dailyhealthpost.com · nypost.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Researchers estimated a “number needed to harm” of 227 across all trials, meaning roughly one additional death for every 227 patients treated with cefepime instead of a comparable antibiotic. dailyhealthpost.com

Sources

Common antibiotic linked to higher risk of death in adults, study finds [offthepress.com]

5 days ago

Studie zu Cefepim: möglicher Zusammenhang mit höherem Sterberisiko bei Erwachsenen [www.it-boltwise.de]

5 days ago

Neue Analyse kann frühere Bedenken nicht entkräften [www.aend.de]

4 days ago

A common antibiotic is linked to higher death risk — but experts disagree on why. [dailyhealthpost.com]

5 days ago

Common antibiotic linked to higher risk of death in adults, study finds [nypost.com]

5 days ago