title: Meropenem versus imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of hospitalized patients with skin and soft tissue infections.
abstract: Meropenem is a new carbapenem antibiotic shown to resist degradation by renal dehydropeptidase I. In a multicenter, open-label, prospective trial, we compared the efficacy and safety of meropenem with imipenem/cilastatin in patients with skin and soft tissue infections. Patients received either 500 mg of meropenem every 8 hours (n = 184) or 500 mg of imipenem/cilastatin every 6 hours (n = 193), by intravenous infusion for an average of 6 to 7 days. Satisfactory clinical responses were achieved in 120 (98%) of 123 assessable meropenem-treated patients and in 120 (95%) of 126 assessable imipenem/cilastatin-treated patients. Satisfactory bacteriologic responses were achieved in 120 (98%) of 123 assessable meropenem-treated patients and in 120 (95%) of 126 assessable imipenem/cilastatin-treated patients. Satisfactory bacteriologic response rates were high as well: 94% with meropenem and 91% with imipenem/cilastatin. Between-group differences in satisfactory response rates were not significant (95% confidence interval, -2.29 to 6.93 [clinical]; -2.73 to 10.39 [bacteriologic]). Overall pathogen eradication rates (for aerobes and anaerobes) were slightly higher for meropenem. Elevated liver enzymes were the most frequent adverse events in each treatment group. Meropenem was well tolerated and as effective as imipenem/cilastatin in treatment of hospitalized patients with skin and soft tissue infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans 70112, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Geckler
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015377:Cilastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077728:Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014456:Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D013845:Thienamycins; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem; D000077728:Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination; D000077731:Meropenem