MEROPENEM IN ELDERLY AND RENALLY IMPAIRED PATIENTS

The safety profile of meropenem in the elderly (aged > 65 years, n = 8 43) and/or renally impaired (creatinine clearance < 51 ml/min, n = 436 ) was assessed by evaluating data from 26 phase III studies which comp ared the use of meropenem (0.5 or 1.0 g, i.v. every 8 h) with other an timicrobial agents in patients with bacterial infections. The overall pattern and frequency of adverse events following meropenem therapy in the elderly and/or renally impaired were similar to those in younger and/or non-renally impaired cohorts and to imipenem/cilastatin and inj ectable third generation cephalosporins. Both dosages of meropenem (0. 5 and 1.0 g, i.v. every 8 h) were generally well tolerated. There was no clinically significant mean change in indicators of renal flux betw een baseline and the end of treatment in any patient sub-group. Import antly, meropenem-related seizures were rare (0.1%), even in patients w ith renal impairment. In summary, meropenem has an excellent safety pr ofile and is therefore suitable for use in elderly and/or renally impa ired patients. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V./Internation al Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.