
New Analysis Links Common Hospital Antibiotic Cefepime to Higher Mortality Risk
A large meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open suggests that cefepime, a widely used hospital antibiotic, may be associated with a higher risk of death compared to other beta-lactam antibiotics. The study, which reviewed 110 randomized clinical trials involving over 22,000 patients, found a 94.4% probability of increased all-cause mortality within 30 days of treatment. While the association was strongest in adults with febrile neutropenia, researchers emphasize that this does not prove causation. Experts suggest that dosing errors and neurotoxicity, rather than the drug itself, may drive the risk, urging better clinical guidance rather than discontinuation.









