title: Pharmacokinetics of meropenem in experimentally burned rats.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of meropenem were investigated to examine its penetration into the skin of third degree burned rats. The rats were divided into two groups. One group acted as the control, and the other group had third degree burns induced by immersing their backs into 80 degrees C water for 20 seconds. The rats in each group were given 20 mg/kg of body weight of meropenem intravenously by one bolus injection seven days after burn inducement or depilation. In the non-burned control group, the maximum concentrations of meropenem in the serum and skin of 6.03 micrograms/ml and 0.12 microgram/g were respectively obtained 15 minutes after the injection and decreased very rapidly thereafter. In the burned rats, the maximum concentrations of meropenem in the serum, skin (eschar), and exudate fluid of 7.07 micrograms/ml, 1.44 micrograms/g and 5.99 micrograms/ml were respectively obtained 15 minutes after the injection and decreased very slowly. The penetration of meropenem into the burned skin was higher than that into the normal skin. These results suggest that meropenem is a very useful antibiotic in the treatment of burn infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Homma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azami
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugihara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D000077731:Meropenem; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013997:Time Factors; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem