Piperacillin-induced anemia and leukopenia.

Piperacillin is being used with increasing frequency as an important antibiotic for the treatment of severe and life-threatening infections. Many of these patients may have multiple possible causes of leukopenia and/or anemia. An awareness of the potential for piperacillin to cause the rapid onset of leukopenia and/or anemia may have important therapeutic implications, especially in severely ill patients.