title: Penetration of meropenem in plasma and abdominal tissues from patients undergoing intraabdominal surgery.
abstract: We assessed the penetration of a new carbapenem antibiotic, meropenem, into abdominal tissues. A single 1,000-mg intravenous dose was administered to 66 patients undergoing elective intraabdominal surgery. Plasma, body fluid (peritoneal fluid and bile), and tissue samples (colon, gallbladder, omentum, stomach, fascia, muscle, and skin) were taken at various times up to 8 hours after administration of the dose. Meropenem concentrations were determined by means of validated bioassay techniques. Peak meropenem concentrations in most tissue specimens and one body fluid occurred within approximately 1 hour; the exceptions were bile and muscle specimens, in which peak concentrations were present in approximately 2 to approximately 4 hours. The bile concentration increased with time, thus indicating active excretion of drug into bile. Only one adverse event (mild nausea) was attributable to meropenem. Our results show that meropenem achieves adequate tissue concentrations for the treatment of intraabdominal infections due to susceptible bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Condon
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broom
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pitkin
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005205:Fascia / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009852:Omentum; D010949:Plasma / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem