A. Nyhlen et al., PHARMACOKINETICS OF MEROPENEM IN FEBRILE NEUTROPENIC PATIENTS, European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases, 16(11), 1997, pp. 797-802
To determine the impact of neutropenia on the pharmacokinetics of mero
penem, 14 patients with fever and neutropenia were given 1 g of merope
nem i.v. every 8 h as an infusion over 30 min, The volume of distribut
ion (16.2 l/1.73 m(2)) and the nonrenal clearance [75 ml/(min x 1.73 m
(2))] in this group were significantly increased compared to healthy s
ubjects studied previously with identical techniques, The kinetic stud
y was repeated when the patients had a normal temperature and a raised
neutrophil count; most kinetic variables did not differ from the find
ings on the first day of treatment. The pharmacokinetic profile of mer
openem in febrile neutropenic patients differs from earlier findings i
n healthy subjects. Considering these data and known minimum inhibitor
y concentration values for common pathogens, meropenem administered ev
ery 6 to 8 h seems an appropriate regimen in patients with febrile neu
tropenia. The shorter time interval may be used for treatment of Pseud
omonas infection.