Severe resistant hypokalemia and torsadogenic QTc interval induced by Imipenem

Abstract

Imipenem is an antibiotic from the subgroup of carbapenems that has a broad spectrum of activity against Gram positive, Gram negative and anaerobic bacteria. It is mainly used in severe nosocomial infections due to multidrug resistant bacteria and with the suspicion of germs producing extended spectrum Beta-lactamases (ESBL), according to local epidemiology. We reported the case of a 62-year-old man admitted to our institution with a diagnosis of intranosocomial pneumonia, who presented hypokalemia resistant to treatment and severe QTc interval prolongation; an unusual adverse effect associated with the treatment with Imipenem.