Fever caused by antibacterial agents

Key words: 
• antibacterial agents /
• drug fever /
• hypersensitivity reaction

Abstract: Antibacterial agents associated fever,a kind of drug fever,means that fever is due to the administration of antibacterial agents,which may be related to the chemical construction of drug and idiosyncrasy.The mechanisms involved in drug fever may be mainly Type Ⅲ immune complex;or a combination of hypersensitivity reaction.Fever may devlop immediately after administration of a drug,or more commonly after one to two weeks of administration,which can not be accounted by present illness.The fever is usually low or middle-grade,may or may not be accompanied with skin rash,hepatosplenomegaly,lymphadenopathy,and malaise.The diagnosis of drug fever depends on:increase of body temperature after administration of a drug;cessation of fever after discontinuing of a drug;and no evdence of infection.The best way of treating drug fever is to discontinue the offending antibacterial agents followed by stringent medical survey in case of sever infection.If infection is not under control,it is recommended to change drug to a less fever-causing antibacterial agents,or in combination with the use of small dosage of steroid.