title: Meropenem monotherapy for the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia: results of a multicenter trial.
abstract: The efficacy and tolerability of meropenem as empirical treatment in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia was determined in a prospective, open-label, non-randomized trial. Patients from 28 centers in the USA received meropenem 1 g every 8 h intravenously. Of 255 patients enrolled, 111 were evaluable for efficacy, including 60 patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia. At end of treatment 74% of patients had a satisfactory clinical response and 64% had this response at follow-up, which could last up to 28 days after treatment. In patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia, a satisfactory clinical response was observed in 68% at the end of treatment and 63% at follow-up. The overall satisfactory response rate for individual pretreatment pathogens ranged from 65% to 100%. This study demonstrates that meropenem monotherapy is effective and well tolerated for patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia, including a subgroup of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: St. Francis Medical Center, Department of Infection Control, 1380 Liliha Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. sberman@aloha.net
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fogarty
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fabian
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melnick
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lesky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem