Urinary Sludge Caused by Ceftriaxone in a Young Boy

It is known that ceftriaxone administration is associated with biliary pseudolithiasis, although the development of urolithiasis has been rarely reported. We encountered a young male with bacterial meningitis complicated by urinary precipitates composed of ceftriaxone-calcium salt which is confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. This patient suggested that ceftriaxone significantly increased urinary excretion of calcium, which may be linked to ceftriaxone-related urolithiasis or sludge. It is therefore worthwhile to monitor the levels of urinary calcium to creatinine ratio in patients on ceftriaxone, as they may be at greater risk for developing large stones and renal damage.