International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology | March 2020 | Vol 9 | Issue 3 Page 510
International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology
Narasimha GL et al. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2020 Mar;9(3):510-512
http://www.ijbcp.com
pISSN 2319-2003 | eISSN 2279-0780
Case Report
Amoxicillin induced toxic epidermal necrolysis
Lakshmi Narasimha G.*, Kalpana P.
INTRODUCTION
Amoxicillin is a broad spectrum, bactericidal and a beta
lactam antibiotic that is used in treatment of various
infections. The most important concern regarding the use
of antibiotics is the occurrence of adverse drug reactions.
These reactions appear in the form of drug eruptions on
the skin as maculopapular rashes, urticarial eruptions,
serum sickness like reactions (SSLR), blisters formation
and bullous erythema etc. Toxic epidermal necrolysis
(TEN) is the serious life-threatening drug eruption
associated with the use of amoxicillin.
1
It is characterised
by epidermal sloughing, blisters and mucocutaneous
reactions. Drug and its metabolites are the main cause for
the development of TEN. The following drugs were
reported with TEN like sulphonamides, allopurinol,
carbamazepine, phenobarbital, nevirapine, penicillin and
non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) etc.
2
CASE REPORT
A 22 years old male was admitted in the Government
General Hospital, Kadapa with complaints of Sloughing
of skin, small blisters on the trunk and four limbs with
presence of burning sensation all over the body (Figure 1
and 2). He was diagnosed with fever for last three days
and received tablet amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and
injection amoxicillin sodium as initial drug treatment
with the dose of 625 mg and 250 mg twice daily
respectively. Complaints developed after administering of
those drugs for fever within three days. During his
admission, after clear examination it was found that the
lesions are erythematous macular lesions with darker
haemorrhagic pattern all over the body and dislodgment
of epidermis on the limb region. No mucosal and genital
involvement. Nikolsky’s sign was positive. The condition
was diagnosed as drug induced TEN and the suspecting
drug was amoxicillin as causative by the dermatologist.
Except the skin lesions rest of the findings were normal.
Laboratory investigation were Hb- 10.5 gm%, TC- 1200
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Annamacharya College of Pharmacy, Rajampeta, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
Received: 02 January 2020
Accepted: 11 February 2020
*Correspondence:
Dr. Lakshmi Narasimha G.,
Email: gunturunarasimha007@gmail.com
Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
ABSTRACT
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare life-threatening adverse drug reaction associated with mucocutaneous
eruptions and peeling of skin (sloughing) mostly caused by drugs like sulphonamides, beta lactams, carbamazepine
and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Amoxicillin is a broad spectrum, bactericidal, Beta-lactam
antibiotic used in treatment of various infections. Here by we have reported the case of amoxicillin induced severe
toxic epidermal necrolysis. A Patient admitted in the hospital with the symptoms of epidermal sloughing that resulted
in bare dermis as he received Amoxicillin drug for his diagnosis of fever. After clear examination TEN was
confirmed and suspected with the cause due to Amoxicillin. The drug was stopped and patient was treated with other
drugs for symptomatic cure. The patient was recovered from his condition and improved significantly.
Keywords: Amoxicillin, Adverse drug reactions, Life threatening, Mucocutaneous eruptions, Skin sloughing, Toxic
epidermal necrolysis
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20200731