title: Cure of persistent, post-appendectomy Klebsiella pneumoniae septicaemia with continuous intravenous administration of meropenem.
abstract: A 15-year-old girl developed a persistent bacteraemia with Klebsiella pneumoniae accompanied by systemic symptoms including high fever and rigors after appendectomy. Extensive laboratory and imaging work-up, including tests for an intra-vascular source of infection, did not reveal the origin of the persistent bacteraemia. The Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to gentamicin and colistin and intermediately susceptible to meropenem. The septicaemia persisted despite the intravenous administration of meropenem 1 g and later 2 g every 8 h in combination with intravenous gentamicin and later colistin. The patient was cured only after the continuous intravenous administration of meropenem of 6 g/d.
authors.affiliation: Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece. m.falagas@aibs.gr
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Falagas
authors.forename: Ilias I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Siempos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsakoumis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000077731:Meropenem; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem