CDC-Led Investigation Links Ceftriaxone Injections to 12 Deaths

Over 11 months from 2024 to 2025, deaths and other severe adverse events were more prominent than usual after ceftriaxone injection, but the researchers could not identify a common source problem.

Matt MacKenzie

Sept. 8, 2026

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Key Highlights

The investigation covered 56 severe adverse events, including 12 deaths and 19 cases requiring CPR, across 18 states over nearly a year.
Patients experiencing adverse events often had prior ceftriaxone exposure and underlying cardiac conditions, indicating potential risk factors.
No common source or product quality issues were identified, suggesting these severe reactions may be due to individual patient factors or known drug responses.
The findings underscore the importance of vigilance when administering ceftriaxone, especially in patients with pre-existing health conditions.
Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these adverse reactions and to develop strategies for prevention.

A CDC-led investigation identified 12 deaths and other severe adverse events linked to ceftriaxone injections at healthcare facilities in 18 states over 11 months. CIDRAP has the news.

The investigation’s results were published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. It began in December 2024 after an Alabama county coroner reported two unexpected deaths immediately following ceftriaxone injection at two separate primary care clinics within a single week. There were also reports of another death and two non-fatal adverse events.

There was no evidence of tampering, safety breaches, or common lot exposure, so the investigation was expanded. From August 2024 to September 2025, 56 severe adverse events (SAEs) were reported; 31 involved death or CPR. 12 of those 31 patients died; 19 had CPR successfully administered; 23 had anaphylaxis-type reactions; 21 had previous ceftriaxone exposure; and 24 had cardiac comorbidities.

The study authors wrote that “the absence of a common source etiology, epidemic peak, explanatory product quality issue, or substantial change in national adverse event occurrence over time suggests that the three initial deaths reported in December 2024 may represent a chance clustering of known, albeit severe, adverse reactions to ceftriaxone.”