Vancomycin Induced Thrombocytopenia in a Newborn

Abstract

Severe thrombocytopenia due to vancomycin is a rare complication reported in both the pediatric and adult population. In this paper, we present a case of thrombocytopenia due to vancomycin in a newborn. Ceftriaxon and ampicillin-sulbactam were administered to a 20-day-old boy with diagnosis of bronchopneumonia and sepsis. On the 7th day, vancomycin was added to the treatment because of worsening clinical picture. 48 hours later, the patient showed significant clinical improvement; however, on the 4th day of the vancomycin treatment, thrombocytopenia was developed (25,000 cells per mm3). The antithrombocyte antibodies were negative. After stopping the vancomycin treatment, the thrombocyte count rose to more than 100,000 within four days. In newborns, no thrombocytopenia case has been reported to date. In the pediatric population, thrombocytopenia is rare, but it can be a fatal condition. So newborns who have been given vancomycin should be closely followed for vancomycin-induced thrombocytopenia.