title: Primaxin in the treatment of acute bacterial pneumonia in adults.
abstract: Imipenem (N-Formimidoyl thienamycin) (MK-0787) is a new beta-lactam carbapenem antibiotic. When it is combined with the renal dipeptidase inhibitor cilastatin (MK-0791) the combination is known as primaxin. In this study 28 adult patients (24 males and 4 females) with acute bacterial pneumonia were treated with primaxin. Twenty-one patients were evaluable and 20 (95%) were clinically cured of their pneumonia. Bacteriological cures were demonstrated in 84% of the cases. One patient with a susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa failed. Major complications or toxic reactions included antibiotic associated diarrhoea in one patient; hypotension in one patient; increased grand mal seizures in one patient and elevated liver function studies in one patient. Results of this study suggest that primaxin will be useful in the treatment of a variety of serious Gram-positive and Gram-negative pneumonias. The true incidence of possible toxic reactions with this drug is not known at this time and awaits further experience.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015377:Cilastatin; D000077728:Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004150:Dipeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013845:Thienamycins; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem; D000077728:Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination; D004150:Dipeptidases