BIAPENEM VERSUS IMIPENEM CILASTATIN IN THE TREATMENT OF COMPLICATED INTRAABDOMINAL INFECTIONS - REPORT FROM A SWEDISH STUDY-GROUP/

118 patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections participated in an open randomized comparative multicenter trial in order to compar e the clinical and microbiological efficacy and safety of biapenem wit h imipenem/cilastatin (Tienam). 31 men and 27 women (mean age 52.3 yea rs) were enrolled in the biapenem group, and 43 men and 17 women (mean age 52.3 years) in the imipenem/cilastatin group, The patients receiv ed either biapenem 500 mg every 8 h or imipenem/cilastatin 500 mg/500 mg every 6 h by intravenous infusion for up to 13 days (mean 6.5 days) . 28/43 evaluable patients (65.1%) receiving biapenem and 27/40 evalua ble patients (67.5%) in the imipenem/cilastatin group were clinically cured. The microbiological response was satisfactory in 28/43 evaluabl e patients (65.1%) receiving biapenem and in 27/40 evaluable patients (67.5%) receiving imipenem/cilastatin. No significant differences in c linical or microbiological efficacy between the two treatment groups w ere found. The present study shows that biapenem may be useful in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections.