Comparison of the pharmacodynamics of meropenem in healthy volunteers following administration by intermittent infusion or bolus injection.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meropenem when administered by 3 h infusion or bolus injection regimens.

PATIENTS AND 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.