Ceftriaxone is the most commonly used antibiotic in Pakistan which is well-tolerated and rarely cause fatal adverse reactions. Here, we underline a fatal cardiopulmonary arrest post-ceftriaxone administration. A nine-year-old girl was presented to the emergency department with complaints of sore throat and a small abscess on the cheek. She was prescribed ceftriaxone 0.5 g intravenously STAT (immediately) and amoxicillin syrup (125 mg/5ml) 1 tablespoon BID (twice a day) for 5 days. Earlier, the patient was alert and oriented but she had a fall and became unconscious within a minute of receiving a ceftriaxone injection. She was given emergency treatment for shock and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed for approximately 20 minutes. She was declared dead, with cardiopulmonary arrest reported to be the cause of death. In conclusion, this was a fatal case of cardiopulmonary arrest following anaphylaxis to ceftriaxone (Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability score = 5). Therefore, healthcare professionals should be mindful of anaphylaxis possibility in patients receiving ceftriaxone.
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