title: Imipenem/cilastatin as empirical treatment of severe infections in compromised patients.
abstract: Imipenem/cilastatin was administered as empirical treatment to 22 patients with severe infections, at dosages of 2 or 4 g/day, either alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside. The majority of patients had underlying diseases causing various degrees of immune system dysfunction. The overall cure rate was 77.2%, without significant differences according to the type of pathogen or dosage schedule; however one of the two observed failures was due to a resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Strains recovered from improved patients were all sensitive to the drug. Only mild adverse effects were evidenced, without any alteration of laboratory parameters. Imipenem/cilastatin may be useful as monotherapy in empirical treatment of severe infections in compromised patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biglino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonasso
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gioannini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015377:Cilastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D013845:Thienamycins; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem