Walter R. Duarte-Celada MD, Smathorn Thakolwiboon MD, Jie Pan MD, Tulio Bueso MD, Jannatul Ferdous MD
Cefepime-induced non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) can develop in patients with advanced age, renal impairment, and previous central nervous system disorders. Its clinical presentation varies from confusion, mutism, and decreased level of consciousness to coma. The typical electroencephalogram (EEG) findings are generalized spike and wave discharges of 1–3 Hz. We present a case series of 4 patients with cefepime-induced NCSE, including the clinical presentation and EEG findings. Electroencephalograms should be part of the workup of acute confusional state in patients on this antibiotic, and physicians should be aware of this uncommon complication.
Keywords: Non-convulsive status epilepticus, cefepime, confusion, mutism, electroencephalogram.
Article citation: Duarte-Celada WR, Thakolwiboon S, Pan J, Bueso T, Ferdous J. Cefepime-induced non-convulsive status epilepticus. The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2024;12(50):38–40
From: Department of Neurology (WDC, JF, TB), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX; Department of Neurology (WDC, JF), Covenant Medical Center, Lubbock, TX; Department of Neurology (ST), Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare, La Crosse, WI; Department of Neurology (JP), Torrance Memorial Physician Network, Torrance, CA
Submitted: 11/20/2023
Accepted: 1/14/2024
Conflicts of interest: none
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