PHARMACOKINETICS OF MEROPENEM IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS WITH ACUTE-RENAL-FAILURE TREATED BY CONTINUOUS HEMODIAFILTRATION

The pharmacokinetics of meropenem were studied in nine anuric critical ly iii patients treated by continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. Pe ak levels after infusion of 1,000 mg over 30 min amounted to 103.2 +/- 45.9 mu g/ml, and trough levels at 12 h were 9.6 +/- 3.8 mu g/ml. A d osage of 1,000 mg of meropenem twice a day provides plasma drug levels covering intermediately susceptible microorganisms. Further reduction s of the dosage might be appropriate for highly susceptible bacteria o r when renal replacement therapies with loner clearances are applied.