Vancomycin Induced DRESS Syndrome Leads to Diffuse Maculopapular Rash and Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Hemodialysis, a Rare Life-threatening Condition

Drug hypersensitivity syndrome or drug reaction eosinophilia and systemic symptoms are a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. The incidence ranges from 1/1,000 to 1/10,000 drug exposures with 10 % overall mortality. Allopurinol, sulfonamides and antiepileptics are notorious for causing the DRESS syndrome; vancomycin is less common. Symptoms are mostly rash, atypical lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, and often lymphadenopathy. There may be hepatic, renal, and/or pulmonary involvement. In this article, we present a rare case of 66 years old male who recently had MRSA bacteremia four weeks ago, was on Intravenous vancomycin presented to us secondary to disseminated rash involving more than 70 percent of his body surface area along with high-grade fever, lymphadenopathy and hypotension. Blood work showed eosinophilia, elevated lactic acid and high creatinine. The patient was started on intravenous linezolid and piperacillin/tazobactam but his rash and kidney function were getting worse to an extent of hemodialysis. Suspicion was raised drug induced rash along with systemic involvement due to recent use of vancomycin. All antibiotics were stopped and the patient was started on intravenous fluid and intravenous steroid with significant improvement in two weeks. The main treatment of the DRESS syndrome is supportive therapy along with intravenous steroids.