Bleeding secondary to vitamin K deficiency in patients receiving parenteral cephem antibiotics

Thirteen patients who were treated with cephem antibiotics developed blood coagulation disorders due to vitamin K deficiency. At the time of detection of prolongation of the prothrombin time, cefazolin was being administered in four cases, cefmetazole and latamoxef (moxalactam) in three cases each, and cefoperazone, cefpiramide and ceftazidime in one case each. Bleeding occurred in ten patients, but administration of vitamin K rapidly eliminated...