Antibiotics induced thrombocytopenia among hospitalized adult patients: a single center retrospective study

Abstract

Drug induced thrombocytopenia is a common drug side effect which is frequently encountered upon antibiotics use in patients admitted to hospital. It has been associated with various complications related to liability of bleeding. Clinicians must be aware of the dangers connected with antibiotic therapy in order to maximize patient safety. This study aimed to compare the incidence and the associated risk factors of thrombocytopenia in hospitalized patients receiving different types of antibiotics. After application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 235 adult patients were included. The patients then were classified into two groups according to the platelet count 5-7 days after starting the antibiotic treatment; patients with platelets (PLT) count > 150 x103/ μl and patients with PLT count < 150 x103/ μl. The following data were collected from the medical records: age, sex, history of chronic diseases and risk factors, cause of antibiotic treatment, type, dose, duration of antibiotic, co-administrated medications, laboratory data at admission (before starting the antibiotic) and laboratory results 5-7 days after starting antibiotics. We found that quinolones, vancomycin and carbapenems had significantly higher odds of developing thrombocytopenia (OR= 2.587, 95%CI: from 1.156 to 5.789, P= 0.021), (OR= 5.546, 95%CI: from 2.361 to 13.025, P<0.001) and (OR= 2.979, 95%CI: from 1.131 to 7.851, P= 0.027) respectively. Having DM, liver diseases, neurological diseases or solid tumors increased significantly the risk of developing antibiotic induced thrombocytopenia (AITP). AITP is one of the most potentially serious complications of many antimicrobials. PLT should be monitored while on antibiotic therapy for potential thrombocytopenia.