Antibiotic side effects

Antibiotic-induced side effects are most frequently agent specific, and are less often class side effects. Clinicians should familiarize themselves with the potential frequency and manifestations of antibiotics used to treat common infectious diseases in their practice. An important factor in antibiotic selection is to Use antibiotics with the lowest side effect potential. Side effects have important individual, medicolegal, and economic implications; and every attempt should be made to prevent or Limit antibiotic-induced adverse side effects. Most antibiotic-related side effects are readily reversible if the clinician recognizes the causative relationship between the drug and the adverse event, and discontinues the medication. Some side effects are acutely life threatening, e.g., anaphylaxis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome. While other side effects may be chronic, e.g., aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity, nitrofurantoin chronic pulmonary toxicity or may be potentially fatal, e.g., trovafloxacin-induced fatal hepatic necrosis. Antibiotic-related iatrogenic mortality and morbidity is best minimized by the selective prescribing of antibiotics with an excellent safety profile, and by education in rapidly recognizing drug-related side effects when they occur, so that the offending medication may be withdrawn and permanent or serious effects of the medication minimized.