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Meropenem-Induced Pancytopenia In A Preterm Neonate: A Case Report, Kashif Hussain, Muhammad Sohail Salat, Naureen Mohammad, Ambreen Mughal, Sidra Idrees, Javaid Iqbal, Gul Ambreen

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: A post-marketing surveillance study has reported an association between meropenem use and the incidence of hematologic abnormalities, including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hemolysis, and neutropenia, but the precise incidence in neonates is unknown. Here, we report meropenem-induced pancytopenia in a preterm neonate.
Case presentation: A preterm newborn Pakistani received intravenous meropenem 40 mg/kg every 8 hours to treat Klebsiella pneumoniae in blood cultures and suspected meningitis. The baby developed severe thrombocytopenia, with a platelet count of 22 × 10³ cells/mm³, low hemoglobin level of 9.7 g/dl, and low absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 816 cells/mm³ on days …