title: Comparison of the pharmacodynamics of meropenem in healthy volunteers following administration by intermittent infusion or bolus injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meropenem when administered by 3 h infusion or bolus injection regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a randomized three-way crossover study with a 1 week wash-out period in 12 healthy volunteers. Each subject received a single dose of meropenem in three regimens: (i) bolus injection of 1 g meropenem; (ii) 3 h infusion of 1 g meropenem; and (iii) 3 h infusion of 0.5 g meropenem.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following bolus injection of 1 g meropenem, the mean +/- s.d. percentages of the t > MIC of 4, 2 and 1 mg/L were 42.50 +/- 6.20%, 54.38 +/- 7.64% and 67.04 +/- 8.47% of an 8 h dosing interval, respectively. For the 3 h infusion of 1 g meropenem, the percentages of the t > MIC of 4, 2 and 1 mg/L were 59.27 +/- 7.34%, 71.97 +/- 8.63% and 86.07 +/- 9.41% of an 8 h dosing interval, respectively. For the 3 h infusion of 0.5 g meropenem, the percentages of the t > MIC of 4, 2 and 1 mg/L were 47.27 +/- 5.34%, 59.36 +/- 6.60% and 71.44 +/- 8.45% of an 8 h dosing interval, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that a 3 h infusion of 0.5 g or 1 g of meropenem both give greater values for t > MIC than a 1 g bolus and that intermittent infusion may be a useful mode of administration in tropical countries where drug instability may prevent the use of continuous infusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla 90110, Thailand. jasutep@ratree.psu.ac.th
authors.forename: Sutep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaruratanasirikul
authors.forename: Somchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sriwiriyajan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem