DOI: 10.12890/2025_005460

Piperacillin/tazobactam induced immune-mediated anaemia and thrombocytopenia

Authors

  • Agnes-Sophie Fritz Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
  • Marten Trendelenburg Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
  • Markus Mutke Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

agnes-sophieluise.fritz@usb.ch

Keywords

Piperacillin/tazobactam, haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, bicytopenia, adverse drug effects

Abstract

Piperacillin/tazobactam (PTZ) is known to cause cytopenia but case reports on PTZ causing combined haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia are scarce. We report on a 56-year-old male who developed severe, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and anaemia during two treatment episodes with PTZ. After the first exposure, his blood count rapidly returned to normal after discontinuation of PTZ. One year later, in the context of an unintentional re-challenge with PTZ, the level of red blood cells and platelets dropped again causing acute haemolytic anaemia and immune thrombocytopenia. Recovery was delayed after discontinuation of PTZ. PTZ should be considered as a potential cause of immune-mediated bicytopenia.

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References

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Published

2025-08-18

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 9 (2025)

Categories

How to Cite

1.
Fritz A-S, Trendelenburg M, Mutke M. Piperacillin/tazobactam induced immune-mediated anaemia and thrombocytopenia. EJCRIM [Internet]. 2025 Aug. 18 [cited 2026 Nov. 3];12(9). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/5460

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