[Laboratory and clinical evaluation of meropenem in pediatric field]

We performed laboratory and clinical evaluation of meropenem (SM-7338, MEPM), a new carbapenem antibiotics, in pediatric field. Pharmacokinetics of MEPM was examined with 5 patients, at a dose of 10 mg/kg via 30 minutes drip infusion. Mean plasma concentrations at 30 minutes, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 5.5 hours after dose were 18.8, 6.97, 3.62, 1.14, 0.43 and 0.12 micrograms/ml, respectively, with a half life of 0.96 hour. The urine recovery rate in 6 hours was 70.4%. Clinical efficacy of MEPM was evaluated in 36 patients with various infectious diseases. MEPM was administered at doses ranging 9.5 to 30.6 mg/kg/dosage, 3 to 4 times a day, 21/3 to 10 days. Clinical effects were excellent in 24, good in 11, fair in 1, with an efficacy rate of 97.2%. Bacteriologically, all causative organisms except one each of Haemophilus influenzae and Salmonella enteritidis were eradicated, an eradication rate for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were 100% and 93.3%, respectively. No side effects were observed. Elevations of GOT and/or GPT were noted in 2 patients. From the above results, we believe that MEPM is a highly effective and safe drug for patients with various infectious diseases in pediatric fields.