Sir,
A 33-year-old woman with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma refractory to R-CHOP chemotherapy presented with sepsis secondary to an intestinal perforation caused by a mesenteric mass. Surgical drainage of an intra-abdominal abscess grew Acinetobacter baumannii, and she was treated with cefiderocol, a novel siderophore-cephalosporin, at 2g/8h intravenously. After three weeks of therapy, coinciding with a red blood cell transfusion, her urine changed to a wine-brown color without clots (Figure 1). This discoloration resolved 48 hours after discontinuation of cefiderocol.
Figure 1.
The photo depicts the patient’s red-brownish urine 24 hours after red blood cell transfusion, attributed to the administration of cefiderocol.
Laboratory findings revealed normal renal function, a urinary pH of 7.2, and a normal urinary sediment with no evidence of erythrocytes neither leukocytes in urine. Serum ferritin levels were markedly elevated (2,600 ng/mL). No abnormalities in creatine kinase were detected.
Chromaturia, or urine discoloration, is a relatively uncommon phenomenon associated with certain drugs. Medications such as rifampin, chloroquine, and levodopa are known to cause this benign yet striking side effect [1]. However, reports linking chromaturia to cefiderocol, a novel siderophore-cephalosporin, remain scarce [2–5].
Cefiderocol is a next-generation cephalosporin effective against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria by inhibiting penicillin-binding proteins, which are essential for cell wall synthesis [6,7]. It utilizes bacterial iron uptake mechanisms to penetrate cell membranes, forming iron-cephalosporin complexes that mimic natural siderophores. Although the underlying mechanism of chromaturia is not fully understood, it has been associated with the urinary excretion of these iron complexes under alkaline conditions, and its appearance has been related to elevated iron levels or impaired renal function [2,3].
In this patient, chromaturia was temporally associated with cefiderocol use and resolved upon discontinuation. The absence of renal or muscular abnormalities, a normal urinary sediment, and elevated ferritin levels suggest the mechanism may involve the interaction between cefiderocol’s iron-binding properties and the patient’s iron metabolism. The coinciding blood transfusion in a patient with pre-existing altered iron metabolism may have exacerbated this effect.
As cefiderocol and other advanced antibiotics become essential in the fight against multidrug-resistant organisms, it is increasingly important for clinicians to recognize this unusual side effect to prevent diagnostic confusion and unnecessary treatment interruption. Our case also introduces a previously undescribed trigger, blood transfusion, which may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology behind cefiderocol-induced chromaturia, highlighting the need for greater awareness and further research into this phenomenon.
Further research into the pathophysiology of cefiderocol-associated chromaturia is warranted. Clinicians should consider this association in patients receiving cefiderocol who develop unexplained urine discoloration.
Differential diagnosis
Hematuria: ruled out by the absence of red blood cells in urinary sediment.
Myoglobinuria or hemoglobinuria: excluded based on normal creatine kinase levels and the absence of hemolysis.
Other drug-induced discoloration: the patient was not receiving any other medications known to cause chromaturia.
Teaching points
Cefiderocol-induced chromaturia is benign and resolves upon drug discontinuation. Awareness of this side effect helps prevent unnecessary diagnostic workups and treatment interruptions.
Blood transfusion in patients with hyperferritinemia may exacerbate urine discoloration due to increased iron levels, suggesting a novel trigger for this phenomenon.
Recognition of this rare side effect highlights the importance of monitoring for unexpected drug reactions as novel antibiotics like cefiderocol become increasingly utilized.
Funding
None to declare.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare have no conflicts of interest.
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