PharmacyInternal MedicineNephrologyAntimicrobial PharmacotherapyPediatric Clinical PharmacologyPediatric NephrologyPediatric Antibiotic TherapyPediatric Antimicrobial TherapyAntibiotic-induced NephrotoxicityBlood PressureGeneralized LymphadenopathyHeart RateMediastinal LymphadenopathyMedication-related NephrotoxicityReactive Lymphadenopathy
<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Nephropathy has been reported in association with penicillin<sup>1</sup>and the semisynthetic penicillin, methicillin.<sup>2</sup>There appear to be no reports of nephropathy associated with ampicillin although it shares the 6aminopenicillanic acid nucleus of penicillin and methicillin.<sup>3</sup>A patient was seen with nonazotemic nephropathy associated with ampicillin therapy. <h3>Report of a Case.—</h3> A 12-year-old boy who had received penicillin six years previously was treated for a carbuncle present for one week, by incision and drainage, and 500 mg of ampicillin given intramuscularly. The next morning nausea, emesis, and fever developed one hour after the patient took the first 500-mg dose of ampicillin orally. The blood pressure was normal and remained normal. The heart rate was 96 beats per minute and the temperature was 103 F (39.4 C) and a draining carbuncle in the right posterior cervical area was associated with local lymphadenopathy. Urinalysis revealed a specific