# Cefepime antibiotic mortality risk study > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cefepime-antibiotic-mortality-risk-study > Updated: 2026-09-27T23:22:22.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. A global meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open has linked the antibiotic cefepime to a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to other beta-lactam antibiotics. The study, which reviewed 110 randomized clinical trials involving over 22,000 patients, found that 6.6% of the 11,726 patients receiving cefepime died within approximately 30 days of treatment, compared to 6.2% of those receiving different antibiotics. Researchers identified a 94.4% probability of this association, a figure that 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, though the link was not clearly present in children. Researchers estimated a “number needed to harm” of 227, suggesting 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, with some experts suggesting the issue may stem from dosing rather than the medication itself. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-27: Medical studies link Cefepime to mortality risk and identify CFS respiratory causes Medical studies link the antibiotic Cefepime to higher adult mortality rates and identify respiratory dysfunction as a key factor in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/medical-studies-link-cefepime-to-mortality-risk-and-identify-cfs-respiratory-causes ### 2026-09-16: Cefepime antibiotic linked to higher mortality risk in new study A meta-analysis of 110 clinical trials suggests the antibiotic cefepime is associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to other beta-lactam antibiotics, particularly in adults. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cefepime-antibiotic-linked-to-higher-mortality-risk-in-new-study --- Cite as: Cefepime antibiotic mortality risk study. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cefepime-antibiotic-mortality-risk-study