Abstract
To evaluate the efficacy, safety and usefulness of meropenem (MEPM), a new carbapenem antibiotic for injection, in bacterial pneumonia, a multicenter double-blind controlled study was conducted using imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) as the reference drug. Patients were given 0.5 g of MEPM (the MEPM group) or 1.0 g/1.0 g of IPM/CS (the IPM/CS group) daily (b.i.d.) for 14 days as a rule. The results of evaluation by the committee were as follows: 1. Analyzed cases: Among a total of 146 cases, 113 cases were evaluated for clinical efficacy. These cases included 110 cases of bacterial pneumonia and 3 cases of lung abscess. 2. Clinical efficacy: In bacterial pneumonia, the efficacy rate was 87.5% (49/56) in the MEPM group vs. 92.6% (50/54) in the IPM/CS group. In all cases, the efficacy rate was 87.7% (50/57) in the MEPM group vs. 92.9% (52/56) in the IPM/CS group. There were no significant differences between the two groups. 3. Bacteriological response: The eradication rate was 95.8% (23/24) in the MEPM group vs. 93.1% (27/29) in the IPM/CS group. There was no significant difference between the two groups. 4. Safety: As side effects, nausea and diarrhea were noticed in 1 of 72 patients in the IPM/CS group. The incidence of abnormal laboratory findings was 36.4% (24/66) in the MEPM group vs. 27.8% (20/72) in the IPM/CS group. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Chief abnormalities were an increase in eosinophils and transient elevations of GOT and GPT. 5. Usefulness: In bacterial pneumonia the usefulness rate was 85.7% (48/56) in the MEPM group vs. 90.9% (50/55) in the IPM/CS group. In all cases the rate was 86.0% (49/57) in the MEPM group vs. 91.2% (52/57) in the IPM/CS group. There were no significant differences between the two groups. From the above results we concluded that 0.5 g/day of MEPM was as useful as 1.0 g/1.0 g/day of IPM/CS in bacterial pneumonia.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1343-1364 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | Chemotherapy |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1992 Nov |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Meropenem
- imipenem/cilastatin sodium
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology (medical)
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
- Drug Discovery
- Oncology