Study objective: To assess the pharmacokinetics of meropenem administered as a 3-hour infusion.
Design: Randomized, crossover, open-label study.
Setting: Clinical research center.
Subjects: Six healthy adult male volunteers.
Intervention: Each subject received meropenem 0.5 or 2 g every 8 hours as a 3-hour infusion for three doses and then crossed over to the other dosage regimen.
Measurement and main results: Pharmacokinetic parameters of both regimens were compared, and no significant differences between 0.5- and 2-g doses for the dose-independent parameters (half-life, clearance, and volume of distribution at steady state) were observed. The regimens displayed dose proportionality and were consistent with that of a traditional 0.5-hour infusion. The 3-hour infusion optimized the pharmacodynamic profile of meropenem and worked within the constraints of stability at room temperature stability.
Conclusion: Prolonging the percentage of time above the minimum inhibitory concentration is a feasible option with meropenem; however, further studies are needed to quantify how this increase translates to efficacy.