RENAL AND ELECTROLYTE COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ANTIBIOTIC-THERAPY

Adverse effects of antibiotics generally are minimal, but it is necess ary to remain vigilant for potentially serious sequelae, such as unusu al forms of renal failure, acidosis and electrolyte abnormalities. Avo iding potentially nephrotoxic drug combinations and monitoring drug le vels of nephrotoxic. agents such as vancomycin and aminoglycosides sho uld be routine. However, with prolonged use of certain antibiotics, le vels of electrolytes, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen should be per iodically checked. Elderly and debilitated patients or patients with p reexisting renal insufficiency are at particularly high risk for unexp ected complications from antimicrobial therapy. All antibiotics have t he potential to cause acute interstitial nephritis, which may be manif ested by acute renal failure.