Another Look at the “Ampicillin Rash”

This study found a lower incidence of antibiotic-associated rash in children with Epstein-Barr virus acute infectious mononucleosis than previously reported.

“Ampicillin rash” associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) acute infectious mononucleosis (AIM) was first described in the 1960s and reported to occur in 80% to 100% of treated patients. Ever since then, the dogma of ampicillin rash associated with EBV has been passed along as infectious diseases gospel. Researchers in Israel reexamined the incidence of rash associated with antibiotic treatment in children with EBV-AIM in a retrospective record review of 238 patients with serologically diagnosed EBV infection in two hospitals between 1999 and 2009.

Rash developed in 33% of the 173 patients who received antibiotics and 23% of the 65 untreated patients. Although this difference was not significant, the rate of rash in treated patients who rece…

Reviewing Author

Deborah Lehman, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMedical Board of California

Deborah Lehman, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMedical Board of California

Another Look at the “Ampicillin Rash”

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Reviewing Author