The safety of cefepime in the treatment of infection

Background: Cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin usually reserved for treating severe nosocomial pneumonia, as well as empirical treatment of febrile neutropenia, uncomplicated and complicated urinary tract infections, uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections, and complicated intra-abdominal infections. Objective: Since reports of neurotoxic effects and of an all-cause mortality higher with cefepime than with comparators have created some concerns regarding its safety, this paper reviews data available in the PubMed database up to December 2007 on cefepime safety. Methods: Literature data from PubMed obtained by combining cefepime and safety, or cefepime and clinical trials, were examined. Results/conclusions: Caution in the use of cefepime should be adopted until new evidence on cefepime safety is available.