title: Meropenem in elderly and renally impaired patients.
abstract: The safety profile of meropenem in the elderly (aged > 65 years, n = 843) and/or renally impaired (creatinine clearance < 51 ml/min, n = 436) was assessed by evaluating data from 26 phase III studies which compared the use of meropenem (0.5 or 1.0 g, i.v. every 8 h) with other antimicrobial agents in patients with bacterial infections. The overall pattern and frequency of adverse events following meropenem therapy in the elderly and/or renally impaired were similar to those in younger and/or non-renally impaired cohorts and to imipenem/cilastatin and injectable third generation cephalosporins. Both dosages of meropenem (0.5 and 1.0 g, i.v. every 8 h) were generally well tolerated. There was no clinically significant mean change in indicators of renal flux between baseline and the end of treatment in any patient sub-group. Importantly, meropenem-related seizures were rare (0.1%), even in patients with renal impairment. In summary, meropenem has an excellent safety profile and is therefore suitable for use in elderly and/or renally impaired patients.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, NY, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cunha
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic; D000077731:Meropenem; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem