A 60-year-old man on ICU has been treated for 14 days with IV meropenem for peritonitis. He develops new-onset seizures. Meropenem trough level is 35 ...

Question

A 60-year-old man on ICU has been treated for 14 days with IV meropenem for peritonitis. He develops new-onset seizures. Meropenem trough level is 35 mg/L (target

Accepted Answer

Meropenem neurotoxicity - carbapenems lower the seizure threshold, particularly at supratherapeutic levels

Answer

New intracranial pathology unrelated to antibiotics

Answer

Meropenem allergy

Answer

Withdrawal seizures from opioid reduction

Answer

Hyponatraemia

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Carbapenem Neurotoxicity

A 60-year-old man on ICU has been treated for 14 days with IV meropenem for peritonitis. He develops new-onset seizures. Meropenem trough level is 35 mg/L (target <16 mg/L for neurotoxicity avoidance). What is the most likely cause of the seizures?