Cefepime Linked to 94% Higher Death Risk in Major Antibiotic Review
A new meta-analysis of 110 trials involving 22,000 patients finds cefepime is associated with a 94.4% higher probability of 30-day all-cause mortality compared to other beta-lactam antibiotics, with the risk rising to 98.6% in peer-reviewed trials. Experts debate whether this reflects a drug safety issue or a dosing problem, noting that cefepime remains a first-line treatment for febrile neutropenia.