title: Single-dose pharmacokinetics of meropenem during continuous venovenous hemofiltration.
abstract: The pharmacokinetic properties of meropenem were investigated in nine critically ill patients treated by continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). All patients received one dose of 1 g of meropenem intravenously. High-flux polysulfone membranes were used as dialyzers. Meropenem levels were measured in plasma and ultrafiltrate by high-performance liquid chromatography. The total body clearance and elimination half-life were 143.7 +/- 18.6 ml/min and 2.46 +/- 0.41 h, respectively. The post- to prehemofiltration ratio of meropenem was 0.24 +/- 0.06. Peak plasma drug concentrations measured 60 min postinfusion were 28.1 +/- 2.7 microgram/ml, and trough levels after 6 h of CVVH were 6.6 +/- 1.5 microgram/ml. The calculated total daily meropenem requirement in these patients with acute renal failure and undergoing CVVH was 2,482 +/- 321 mg. Based on these data, we conclude that patients with severe infections who are undergoing CVVH can be treated effectively with 1 g of meropenem every 8 h.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. florian.thalhammer@akhwien.ac.at
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thalhammer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schenk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burgmann
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: El Menyawi
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Hollenstein
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rosenkranz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sunder-Plassmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Breyer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ratheiser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006440:Hemofiltration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem