Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40558212›Full record

ReviewAntibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)2025

The Effect of Antibiotics on the Nervous System: Importance for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care.

Paweł Radkowski, Julia Oszytko, Kamil Sobolewski, Florian Trachte, Dariusz Onichimowski, Marta Majewska

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Paweł RadkowskiDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
Julia OszytkoFaculty of Medicine, Opole University, 45-758 Opole, Poland.ORCID 0009-0008-8917-8943
Kamil SobolewskiDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, 50-359 Wrocław, Poland.
Florian TrachteMedical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
Dariusz OnichimowskiDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-7648-7511
Marta MajewskaDepartment of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-5856-6929

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDue to the high prevalence of severe infections, antibiotics are frequently administered in anaesthesia and intensive care units. Despite their therapeutic efficacy, several antibiotics exhibit neurotoxic potential, resulting in central and peripheral neurological complications in patients. This review aims to summarise the current evidence on antibiotic-induced neurotoxicity, particularly in critical care settings.

methodsA comprehensive literature analysis was performed to assess the neurotoxic profiles, underlying mechanisms, and clinical manifestations associated with different antibiotic classes, including beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, aminoglycosides, and others.

resultsBeta-lactam antibiotics (especially cephalosporins and carbapenems) are strongly associated with seizures, encephalopathy, and EEG abnormalities, mainly through GABAergic inhibition and mitochondrial dysfunction. Fluoroquinolones and macrolides can cause psychosis, insomnia, and neuropathy via NMDA activation and oxidative stress. Linezolid carries the risk of serotonin syndrome and optic neuropathy, while glycopeptides and aminoglycosides are primarily associated with ototoxicity. Risk factors include advanced age, renal or hepatic impairment, and high serum drug levels.

conclusionsThe neurotoxic potential of antibiotics is a critical but under-recognised aspect of pharmacotherapy in intensive care. Improved awareness, pharmacovigilance, dose adjustment, and drug monitoring are crucial for mitigating adverse neurological effects.

Indexed as

antibioticscomplicationsGABA inhibitionintensive careneurotoxicityseizures

Identifiers

PMID40558212
PMCPMC12189792

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.