II. Indications
- See Carbapenem
- Conditions
- Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
- Intraabdominal Infections (Appendicitis, peritonitis)
- Meningitis (over age 3 months)
- Meropenem is the only Carbapenem FDA approved for Meningitis
III. Mechanism
- See Carbapenem
IV. Dosing
- Adult (and child weighing >50 kg)
- High Dose: 2000 mg IV every 8 hours
- Indicated in Meningitis (not FDA approved)
- Medium Dose: 1000 mg IV every 8 hours
- Indicated in complicated intra-abdominal and Pseudomonas infections
- Also used in Hospital Acquired Pneumonia, complicated UTI, Malignant Otitis Externa (not FDA approved)
- Low Dose: 500 mg IV every 8 hours
- Indicated in Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
- Adjust dose in impaired Renal Function
- High Dose: 2000 mg IV every 8 hours
- Child over age 3 months (and weight<50 kg)
- High Dose: 40 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
- Indicated in Meningitis
- Medium Dose: 20 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
- Indicated in complicated intra-abdominal and Pseudomonas infections
- Low Dose: 10 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
- Indicated in Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
- High Dose: 40 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
- Infant age 2 weeks to 3 months (for complicated intra-abdominal infection)
- Gestational age <32 weeks: 20 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
- Gestational age >32 weeks: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
- Infant age <2 weeks (for complicated intra-abdominal infection)
- Gestational age <32 weeks: 20 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
- Gestational age >32 weeks: 20 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
V. Drug Interactions
- See Carbapenem
VI. Adverse Effects
- See Carbapenem
-
Seizures
- Unlike other Carbapenems, does not appear to significantly increase Seizure risk in Meningitis
- Norrby (1999) Scand J Inf Dis 31(1):3-10 +PMID: 10381210 [PubMed]
-
Thrombocytopenia
- May oocur with Meropenem (Merrem) in patients with renal dysfunction
VII. Safety
- Unknown safety in pregnancy and Lactation
VIII. Resources
IX. References
- LiverTox (2017), accessed online 1/2/2023
- Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pharmacopeia
- (2012) Presc Lett, Resource #231205, Comparison of CarbapenemAntibiotics
- Zhanel (2007) Drugs: 67(7): 1027-52 [PubMed]
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
Definition (NCI) | A broad-spectrum carbapenem with antibacterial properties, synthetic Meropenem inhibits cell wall synthesis in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It penetrates cell walls and binds to penicillin-binding protein targets. Meropenem acts against aerobes and anaerobes including Klebsiella, E. coli, Enterococcus, Clostridium sp.. (NCI04) |
Definition (PDQ) | A broad-spectrum carbapenem with antibacterial properties, synthetic Meropenem inhibits cell wall synthesis in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It penetrates cell walls and binds to penicillin-binding protein targets. Meropenem acts against aerobes and anaerobes including Klebsiella, E. coli, Enterococcus, Clostridium sp.. Check for "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=41899&idtype=1" active clinical trials or "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=41899&idtype=1&closed=1" closed clinical trials using this agent. ("http://nciterms.nci.nih.gov:80/NCIBrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&code=C1160" NCI Thesaurus) |
Concepts | Antibiotic (T195) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
MSH | C059500 |
SnomedCT | 387540000, 96062004 |
LNC | LP17167-5, MTHU008102 |
English | 1-Azabicyclo(3.2.0)hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid, 3-((5-((dimethylamino)carbonyl)-3-pyrrolidinyl)thio)-6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-7-oxo-, (4R-(3(3S*,5S*),4alpha,5beta,6beta(R*)))-, 3-(5-dimethylcarbamoylpyrrolidin-3-ylthio)-6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-7-oxo-1-azabicyclo(3.2.0)hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid, Meropenem Trihydrate, meropenem, meropenem (medication), meropenem [Chemical/Ingredient], MEROPENEM, Meropenem, Meropenem (product), Meropenem (substance) |
Spanish | meropenem (producto), meropenem (sustancia), meropenem |