First-, second-, and third-generation cephalosporins doubled the odds of delirium after baseline co-morbidities, ICU type, the course of critical care, and other competing antimicrobial and psychotropic medication risks were adjusted for. We did not find an association between delirium and cefepime, penicillins, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, or macrolides. Of 418 ICU patients, delirium occurred in 308 (74%) with a median of 3 days among those affected and 318 (76%) were exposed to antimicrobials. When covariates and ICU type were adjusted for, only first- to third-generation cephalosporins were associated with delirium. Our study was a nested cohort that enrolled non-neurological critically ill adults from a medical or surgical ICU with daily follow-up to 30 days.

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