[Clinical evaluation of meropenem in the pediatric field]

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 21, 2026

A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii
09:17

A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii

Published on: January 2, 2017

K Mikuni1, H Matsuda, N Watanabe

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kyorin University.

The Japanese Journal of Antibiotics
|June 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Meropenem (MEPM) demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in pediatric patients with acute bacterial infections. This new carbapenem antibiotic showed a high success rate with minimal side effects in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Therapy
  • Carbapenem Antibiotics

Background:

  • Acute bacterial infections pose a significant health challenge in pediatric populations.
  • Novel antimicrobial agents are needed to combat evolving resistance patterns and improve treatment outcomes.
  • Meropenem (SM-7338, MEPM) is a new parenteral carbapenem beta-lactam antibiotic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of meropenem (MEPM) in pediatric patients.
  • To assess the bacteriological eradication rates associated with MEPM treatment in children.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving thirteen pediatric patients aged 2 months to 8 years and 8 months with acute infectious diseases.
  • Intravenous administration of meropenem (MEPM) at doses ranging from 39.3 to 76.7 mg/kg/day.
  • Inclusion of diagnoses such as respiratory tract infections, sepsis, orbital cellulitis, parotid abscess, lymphadenitis, and pyoderma.

Main Results:

  • A clinical efficacy rate of 84.6% (11 out of 13 patients) was observed.
  • A bacteriological eradication rate of 71.4% (5 out of 7 patients) was achieved.
  • Adverse effects were minimal, with one case of eosinophilia and one of anemia reported; no other drug-attributable side effects were noted.

Conclusions:

  • Meropenem (MEPM) is a potentially useful antibiotic for treating moderate to severe acute bacterial infections in children.
  • The drug exhibits a favorable efficacy and safety profile in the pediatric population studied.

More Related Videos

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses11:17

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses

Published on: August 30, 2018

Assessment of Intestinal Transcytosis of Neonatal Escherichia coli Bacteremia Isolates08:32

Assessment of Intestinal Transcytosis of Neonatal Escherichia coli Bacteremia Isolates

Published on: February 17, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...