A randomized, controlled clinical trial on meropenem versus imipenem/cilastatin for the treatment of bacterial infections.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of meropenem in Chinese patients, we conducted a study for the treatment of patients with lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections and other infections.


METHODS
A total of 182 hospitalized patients were enrolled in the study. 90 patients received 500 mg meropenem every 12 hours (or 1 g every 12 hours if necessary) and 92 patients received imipenem/cilastatin 500 mg/500 mg every 12 hours (or 1 g every 12 hours if necessary) by intravenous infusion. The duration of treatment was 7 - 14 days for both groups.


RESULTS
Seventy of 90 cases receiving meropenem and 70 of 92 cases receiving imipenem/cilastatin were assessable for clinical efficacy. The overall efficacy rates were 90% for the meropenem group and 87% for the imipenem/cilastatin group, and the bacterial eradication rates were 86% in both groups. 93 (76%) of 123 strains isolated from patients produced beta-lactamases. Adverse drug reactions were evaluated in 72 cases in the meropenem group and 70 cases in the imipenem/cilastatin group. The adverse drug reaction rates were 9.7% and 8.6%, respectively. The results showed that there were no statistical differences between these two groups (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Meropenem is effective and safe for the treatment of bacterial infections caused mainly by beta-lactamase-producing strains.
Hou
Fang
F
The Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, First Affiliated Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Li
Jiatai
J
Wu
Guoping
G
Zheng
Bo
B
Chen
Yifang
Y
Gu
Junming
J
Wang
Huiling
H
Huo
Li
L
Xue
Xin
X
Jia
Changxu
C
Yin
Yonghong
Y
Tian
Xiaofeng
X
Ren
Shuangyi
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015377:Cilastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
D013845:Thienamycins; D015377:Cilastatin; D015378:Imipenem; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000077731:Meropenem