[Studies on meropenem in the field of pediatrics].

ABSTRACT

The pharmacokinetics and the clinical effectiveness of meropenem (MEPM) were examined in the field of pediatrics. The results are summarized as follows. 1. A 4-year-6-month-old girl with suppurative meningitis (Haemophilus influenzae) was treated by intravenous drip infusion of MEPM in a daily dose of 29 mg/kg which was divided into 4 dosages, each dosage being infused over 30 minutes, and the drug concentration in cerebrospinal fluid was determined. Upon completion of infusion on the 2nd day of treatment, the drug concentration was 2.52 micrograms/ml, which corresponded to 3.6% of the drug concentration in the blood. 2. MEPM was used in 10 patients, including 3 with suppurative lymphnoditis, 2 with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) and 1 each with pneumonia, suppurative meningitis, suppurative knee arthritis, facial phlegmon and pyelonephritis. The daily doses ranged from 30 to 117.6 mg/kg, divided into 3 to 4 dosages and administered via intravenous drip infusion over 30 minutes. Clinical responses were evaluated as very good in 7 patients, good in 2 patients and fair in 1 patient, with an efficacy rate of 90%. 3. Isolated pathogens were 2 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 1 strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 3 strains of Haemopilus influenzae. All of the 6 strains were eradicated, with an eradication rate of 100%. 4. In the safety evaluation, none of the patients was observed to have any side effects. Furthermore, no abnormal variations were found in laboratory test data possibly attributable to administration of MEPM.