title: [Multicenter comparative study of meropenem vs. imipenem in the intramuscular treatment of hospital infections of the urinary tract].
abstract: A clinical, multicentre, randomised, comparative study in 283 adult hospitalized patients was carried out to assess efficacy of meropenem in the treatment of complicated and non-complicated urinary tract infections, in comparison to imipenem/cilastatin. Both antibiotics were administered intramuscularly, at a dose of 500 mg bid. The two groups were homogeneous, as regards the distribution between male and female, the mean age of the patients, the severity of infections and the mean duration of treatment. Clinical results were assessed at the end of therapy and follow-up (4-6 weeks). Bacteriological results were assessed at 5-9 days post-treatment and at follow-up. As regards clinical and bacteriological results patients showing a satisfactory response rate were compared, at the end of the treatments using a Chi square test. With both treatments high satisfactory clinical and bacteriological response rates were seen. As regards clinical satisfactory responses (97% of meropenem assessable patients versus 90% of imipenem/cilastatin assessable patients), there was a statistically significant difference in favor of meropenem. The bacteriological outcome was successful (eradication) for 75% of assessable patients in each group. Most failures were seen in the complicated infections, even when pathogens usually sensitives to carbapenemics were initially isolated. Safety was good with both drugs; no withdrawals in any group of treatment was seen because of side effects. The local tolerance of meropenem was globally rated as good.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra e Divisione Clinicizzata di Urologia, Ospedale Policlinico, Università degli Studi, Verona.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tallarigo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Comunale
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baldassarre
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poletti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015377:Cilastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D015780:Carbapenems; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D013845:Thienamycins; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem; D000077731:Meropenem