MEROPENEM VERSUS IMIPENEM-CILASTATIN IN THE TREATMENT OF INTRAABDOMINAL INFECTIONS

In order to compare the clinical and microbiological efficacy and safe ty of meropenem with imipenem/cilastatin, 249 patients with intra-abdo minal infections participated in an open randomised comparative multic entre trial. Seventy-five men and 57 women (mean age 51 years) were en rolled in the meropenem group and 67 men and 50 women (mean age 52 yea rs) in the imipenem/cilastatin group. The patients received either mer openem, 500 mg q 8h, or imipenem/cilastatin, 500 mg/500 mg q 8h by int ravenous infusion for up to 17 days (mean 5 days). Ninety-seven of 99 patients (98%) receiving meropenem were clinically cured while 86 of 9 0 patients (96%) in the imipenem/cilastatin group were clinically cure d. The microbiological response was satisfactory in 89 of 94 evaluable patients (95%) receiving meropenem and in 78 of 81 evaluable patients (96%) receiving imipenem/cilastatin. There was no significant differe nce in clinical and microbiological efficacy between the two treatment groups. Adverse reactions were noted in 26 patients receiving meropen em and in 36 patients receiving imipenem/cilastatin. The present study shows that meropenem is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections.