Cefoxitin-induced pseudo acute renal failure.

A patient with probable pseudo acute renal failure resulting from the effect of cefoxitin on the routine measurement of serum creatinine is described. In vitro studies demonstrate varying degrees of cefoxitin interference with three widely used automated methods for creatinine determination, resulting in falsely elevated levels of this measure of renal function. Care in the interpretation of serum creatinine in patients receiving cefoxitin is advised.