title: Meropenem versus imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of intraabdominal infections requiring surgery.
abstract: In a prospective randomized study meropenem was compared with imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of 62 patients with intraabdominal infections requiring surgery. The patients were suffering from diffuse or local peritonitis of moderate severity complicating in most cases gangrenous appendicitis, stomach perforation or gallbladder disease. There were 30 patients in the meropenem group and 32 patients in the imipenem/cilastatin group. Both antibiotic regimens were given intravenously at a dosage of 1 g every 8 h for a mean duration of 7.7 days in the meropenem group versus 8.6 days in the imipenem/cilastatin group. Fifty-nine aerobic strains and 15 anaerobic strains were isolated from cultures of pus taken intraoperatively, the meropenem MICs ranging from < or = 0.25 to 2 micrograms/ml. At follow-up at least one month after treatment the outcome was considered successful in all of 27 evaluable patients given meropenem and in all of 29 evaluable patients given imipenem/cilastatin. Both antibiotic regimens were well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Propedeutic Medicine, Athens University School of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanellakopoulou
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Giamarellou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papadothomakos
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsipras
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chloroyiannis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Theakou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sfikakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015377:Cilastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013845:Thienamycins; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem; D000077731:Meropenem