title: Meropenem versus imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections.
abstract: In order to compare the clinical and microbiological efficacy and safety of meropenem with imipenem/cilastatin, 249 patients with intra-abdominal infections participated in an open randomised comparative multicentre trial. Seventy-five men and 57 women (mean age 51 years) were enrolled in the meropenem group and 67 men and 50 women (mean age 52 years) in the imipenem/cilastatin group. The patients received either meropenem, 500 mg q 8 h, or imipenem/cilastatin, 500 mg/500 mg q 8 h by intravenous infusion for up to 17 days (mean 5 days). Ninety-seven of 99 patients (98%) receiving meropenem were clinically cured while 86 of 90 patients (96%) in the imipenem/cilastatin group were clinically cured. The microbiological response was satisfactory in 89 of 94 evaluable patients (95%) receiving meropenem and in 78 of 81 evaluable patients (96%) receiving imipenem/cilastatin. There was no significant difference in clinical and microbiological efficacy between the two treatment groups. Adverse reactions were noted in 26 patients receiving meropenem and in 36 patients receiving imipenem/cilastatin. The present study shows that meropenem is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections.
authors.affiliation: Huddinge Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brismar
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Malmborg
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tunevall
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Mentzing
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Nyström
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anséhn
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bäckstrand
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skau
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000005:Abdomen; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D015377:Cilastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077728:Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D013845:Thienamycins; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem; D000077728:Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination; D000077731:Meropenem