title: Carbapenems: monotherapy in intra-abdominal sepsis.
abstract: Meropenem is the first of a new class of dehydropeptidase-stable carbapenems which is highly active against the microflora associated with intra-abdominal infection. Three randomised, prospective multicentre studies, have compared meropenem monotherapy with imipenem/cilastatin and cefotaxime plus metronidazole in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections: meropenem (1 g) versus cefotaxime (2 g) plus metronidazole (500 mg); meropenem (1 g) versus imipenem/cilastatin (1 g); meropenem (500 mg) versus imipenem/cilastatin (500 mg), all administered intravenously every 8 hours. Of the 641 patients with intra-abdominal infections randomised to treatment, 555 (87%) were clinically evaluable and 445 (69%) were bacteriologically evaluable. At the end of treatment a majority of the patients in each of the 3 studies was clinically cured or improved (91-100%). There were no clinically significant differences between the treatment regimens. Meropenem was effective over a range of intra-abdominal infections and as well tolerated as imipenem/cilastatin, and cefotaxime plus metronidazole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, California College of Medicine, Orange, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D015780:Carbapenems; D008795:Metronidazole; D002439:Cefotaxime