title: A multicenter comparative study of meropenem and imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients.
abstract: The safety and efficacy of meropenem and imipenem/cilastatin were compared in the treatment of hospitalized patients with complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a prospective, multicenter, open, parallel-group trial. Patients were randomized to receive 500-mg intravenous doses of either meropenem every 8 hours (n = 116) or imipenem/cilastatin every 6 hours (n = 119). Data from 95 patients given meropenem and 82 patients given imipenem/cilastatin were included in the evaluation of efficacy. Meropenem produced satisfactory clinical and bacteriologic responses in 99% and 90% of cases, respectively. These results were similar to those obtained with imipenem/cilastatin, which produced clinical improvement in 99% of cases and bacteriologic improvement in 81%. Two patients given meropenem and five patients given imipenem/cilastatin developed superinfections. The rate of relapse was similar in the two groups. Patients who received meropenem had fewer drug-related adverse reactions than did recipients of imipenem/cilastatin (8% vs. 19%). The results of this study demonstrate that meropenem is a safe and effective alternative to imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of hospitalized patients with complicated UTIs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis 38163, USA.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Geckler
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015377:Cilastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D013845:Thienamycins; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem; D000077731:Meropenem