title: Concentration of meropenem in serum and in bronchial secretions in patients undergoing fibreoptic bronchoscopy.
abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate the ability of meropenem to reach the bronchial lumen. 24 patients undergoing fibreoptic bronchoscopy for exploratory purposes were given a single dose of meropenem 1 g as an (i.v., infusion over 30 min. Plasma (P) sampling times were: 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 h. Bronchial secretions (BS) were collected by fibreoptic bronchoscopy at the same sampling times (except for 0 and 0.5 h) in three groups of 8 patients. Meropenem was measured by bioassay using E. coli ATCC 39118 as the test-organism. The results showed that meropenem had reached a high plasma concentration at the first sampling time (59.8 mg.l-1) and then the plasma level decreased rapidly to 10.6 mg.l-1 and 2.7 mg.l-1 at 2 and 3 h respectively. The highest concentration achieved in bronchial secretion was 0.53 mg.l-1 in the third hour, ie 20% of the serum level. The data indicate significant penetration of meropenem into bronchial secretions and achievement of a local level sufficiently high to eradicate most respiratory pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Bichat-Claude Bernard University Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bergogne-Bérézin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muller-Serieys
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aubier
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dombret
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001681:Biological Assay; D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem