Clinical outcomes and cost minimization with an alternative dosing regimen for meropenem in a community hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To compare outcomes and cost for the traditional United States Food and Drug Administration-approved dosing regimen for meropenem versus an alternative dosing regimen providing similar pharmacodynamic exposure with a lower total daily dose.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study with a cost-minimization analysis.


METHODS
A 417-bed, privately owned community hospital.


METHODS
One hundred patients who received meropenem 1 g every 8 or 12 hours (traditional dosing regimen) between January 1 and September 30, 2004 (historical controls), and 192 patients who received meropenem 500 mg every 6 or 8 hours (alternative dosing regimen) between October 1, 2004, and September 30, 2005.


RESULTS
Demographic and clinical data were collected for all patients. Cost-minimization analysis was performed by using the drug acquisition cost for meropenem. Demographics, sources of infection, distributions of organisms, and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores were similar between patients in the traditionally and alternatively dosed groups. Concomitant therapy, duration of therapy, success rates, lengths of stay, and in-hospital mortality rates were also similar between groups. Median time to the resolution of symptoms was 3 days for traditional dosing and 1.5 days for alternative dosing (p<0.0001). A logistic regression model including the dosing strategy showed that only polymicrobial infections and sepsis were associated with increased failure rates. The median cost for antibiotics was $439.05/patient for traditional dosing and $234.08/patient for alternative dosing (p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
An alternative dosing regimen for meropenem with a lower total daily dose yielded patient outcomes, including success rates and duration of therapy, equivalent to those of the traditional dosing regimen. Alternative dosing decreased total drug exposure, costs for antibiotics, and time to the resolution of infections.
Patel
Gita Wasan
GW
Department of Pharmacy, Medical Center of Plano, Plano, Texas 75075, USA. gita.patel@hcahealthcare.com
Duquaine
Susan M
SM
McKinnon
Peggy S
PS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016527:Drug Costs; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem