The FDA reported today that a new warning will be added to Rocephin for Injection, an antibiotic manufactured by Roche Holding AG.  When combined with calcium or calcium-containing products, the antibiotic could cause a fatal reaction in the lungs and kidneys of newborn babies, especially those born premature.

According to an FDA advisory committee, the dangers of Ketek liver damage outweigh the potential benefits of the antibiotic when used to treat certain conditions.  The committee has recommended that the manufacturer no longer be permitted to market the antibiotic for treatment of sinusitis or bronchitis, and that a stronger… Read more.

An FDA staff drug reviewer has openly criticized the continued use of the antibiotic Ketek in a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine published on November 23, 2006.  Ketek side effects have included liver failure and death which the manufacturer did not adequately warn users about.