SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF MEROPENEM IN HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN - RANDOMIZED COMPARISON WITH CEFOTAXIME, ALONE AND COMBINED WITH METRONIDAZOLE ORAMIKACIN

In this multicentre, randomised study of 170 children hospitalised wit h bacterial infections, meropenem (10 to 20 mg/kg every 8 h) was found to be as effective and as well tolerated as cefotaxime (100 to 150 mg /kg/day), with or without amikacin or metronidazole. Most drug-related adverse events were mild and self-limiting. Neither regimen was assoc iated with seizures. The overall incidence of clinically significant l aboratory changes was similar in the two treatment groups. Satisfactor y clinical responses were obtained in 94/96 (98%) patients treated wit h meropenem monotherapy and 43/46 (93%) children treated with cefotaxi me regimens, while satisfactory bacteriological responses were obtaine d in 25/28 (89%) and 9/10 (90%) patients, respectively. Meropenem mono therapy appears to be a well-tolerated and effective drug for paediatr ic infections.