DOI: 10.29090/psa.2019.02.017.0066 | Pharm Sci Asia 2019; 46(2), 129-134 |
Meropenem Pharmacokinetics During the Initial Phase
of Life-Threatening Infections in Critically Ill Patients
in Intensive Care UnitsSutep Jaruratanasirikul1*, Krittimeth Trerayapiwat1, Monchana Nawakitrangson1, Maseetoh Samaeng 1, Somchai Sriwiriyajan2
1 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songklab 90110, Thailand 2 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla 90110, Thailand
Pathophysiological changes during life-threatening infections have an influence on alteration of pharmacokinetics (PK) of antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to characterize meropenem PK during the initial phase of lifethreatening infections in critically ill patients. The PK studies were conducted during the first dose of a 1-h infusion of 1 g of meropenem every 8 h in critically ill patients with life-threatening infections in the intensive care unit. The mean PK parameters of meropenem were compared to the mean values obtained from healthy subjects. Fourteen patients were enrolled in this study and the PK parameters of meropenem in this group were found to be variable. The volume of distribution, half-life and the area under the concentration-time curve between 0-8 h (AUC0-8) were 26.36 ± 13.37 L, 3.30 ± 3.45 h, and 121.64 ± 56.79 mg.h/L, respectively, which were significantly increased, whereas, total clearance was 9.39 ± 6.67 L/h which was decreased but not significantly different from the values obtained from healthy subjects. PK changes of meropenem can occur during the initial phase of life-threatening infections, resulting in variability and unstable plasma concentrations and thus affecting the antimicrobial efficacy of this agent.
Keyword:
Pharmacokinetic; Meropenem;
Critically ill patients; Lifethreatening Infections
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