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The cumulative incidence of seizures during 21 days after new use of oral antibiotics - a cohort study

Research Project
 | 
01.01.2018
 - 31.12.2021

Use of antibiotics, drugs to cure bacterial infections, has repeatedly been associated with the occurrence of epileptic seizures (abnormal activity in the brain affecting a person's behavior, consciousness or appearance). Various types of antibiotics have been associated with different risks of epileptic seizures. Generally, the risk of epileptic seizure seems to be highest when high doses of antibiotics are used (for example in hospital), or when patients have impaired kidney function, brain disorders, fever, brain infections, or infections in which bacteria are distributed throughout the body. However, it is not clear whether antibiotics are associated with an increased risk of epileptic seizures when taken at usual outpatient (prescribed by the general practitioner) doses. The goal of this study is to quantify the risk of new-onset epileptic seizures in children and adult patients who are newly prescribed oral (taken by mouth) antibiotics by a general practitioner. We further plan to investigate the potential roles of the type of antibiotic, the antibiotic dose, the patients' age, kidney function, underlying type of infection, and pre-existing drug dependence, metabolic disturbances, or brain disorders.

Members (9)

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Christoph R. Meier

Principal Investigator
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Marlene Rauch

Principal Investigator
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Lea Barone

Co-Investigator
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Michael Bodmer

Co-Investigator
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Stephan Rüegg

Co-Investigator
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Raoul Christian Sutter

Co-Investigator
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