Eosinophilic pleural effusion due to cloxacillin and piperacillin-tazobactum

Abstract EN

A young male was treated for right-sided pneumonia with cloxacillin and piperacillin/tazobactam.

As he was recovering from the pneumonia he developed left-sided pleuritic pain and pleural effusion.

At thoracocentesis an exudative pleural effusion contained 16 % eosinophils with a simultaneous 28 % peripheral eosinophilia.

An allergic reaction to penicllins was thought to be the cause.

After withdrawal of those medications and institution of pred¬nisolone a rapid resolution was seen of symptoms, signs, peripheral eosinophilia and radiological abnormalities.