Comparison of the pharmacodynamics of meropenem in healthy volunteers following administration by intermittent infusion or bolus injection.
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.
Jaruratanasirikul
Sutep
S
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla 90110, Thailand. jasutep@ratree.psu.ac.th
Sriwiriyajan
Somchai
S
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*
D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem