Ampicillin-induced interstitial nephritis with generalised exfoliative dermatitis.

Drug induced renal failure is a serious, potentially, fatal illness that is preventable. Hypersensitivity reactions involving the kidneys can occur with any of the penicillin groups. However, there are few reports in the literature of ampicillin as a cause of acute interstitial nephritis. In the following case report, a patient developed acute interstitial nephritis with renal failure and exfoliative dermatitis following ampicillin therapy. The diagnosis was based on the rapid onset of renal failure, presence of eosinophilia, skin rash, and characteristic renal biopsy finding, following the administration of ampicillin. Renal function returned to normal eventually, but she continued to have relapses of exfoliative dermatitis up to a year later.