What is a common adverse effect of aztreonam?

Aztreonam is a monobactam antibiotic that is primarily used against Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. One of its notable features is its low potential for allergic reactions in patients with a penicillin allergy. This is because aztreonam has a unique β-lactam structure that does not share the same side chains as penicillins or cephalosporins, resulting in minimal cross-reactivity.

Patients who are allergic to penicillins are generally safe to receive aztreonam, making it a preferred choice for treating infections in individuals with a known penicillin allergy. This characteristic significantly differentiates aztreonam from other β-lactam antibiotics, which often have a higher incidence of cross-reactivity.

The other options listed, while relevant to various antibiotics and potential side effects, do not pertain to aztreonam in the same manner. For instance, nephrotoxicity is more commonly associated with certain aminoglycosides and vancomycin but not with aztreonam. Bone marrow suppression is generally linked to other classes of drugs, and while diarrhea can occur as a side effect of many antibiotics due to disruption of normal gut flora, it is not a