Pharmacokinetics of short versus extended infusion meropenem dosing in critically ill patients: a pilot study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To test whether a prolonged 3-hour infusion of meropenem 500mg achieves an equivalent proportion of time above the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (%TMIC) to that of meropenem 1000mg given over 30 minutes. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A randomised crossover study in 10 critically ill patients. METHOD: We administered meropenem as a 1000mg, 30-minute infusion or as a 500mg, 3-hour infusion. We determined serial plasma concentrations for each dosing episode and performed comparisons of %TMIC at different MICs. OUTCOME MEASURES: The percentage of time that meropenem was above its MIC. RESULTS: For low MICs (≤2 mg/L), both regimens attained a %TMIC >40% in all patients. Fo..