Treatment of pneumonia with imipenem/cilastatin

This pilot study assessed the efficacy, safety and tolerance of intravenously administered imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of adults hospitalised with community acquired pneumonia. Thirteen patients were treated with 500 mg imipenem and 500 mg cilastatin eight hourly for a minimum of five days. Eleven patients (85%) had a clinical cure; (Legionella pneumophila was the pathogen in four, Streptococcus pneumoniae in one, Branhamella catarrhalis in one, no pathogen identified in five). One patient had a partial response (Staphylococcus aureus); and one patient was a treatment failure (Haemophilus influenzae and Klebsiella ozaenae). Clinical and laboratory side effects were mild, reversible and did not require treatment to be stopped. We conclude that the combination of imipenem and cilastatin was effective as a single agent in the treatment of the majority of these patients with hospital referred community acquired pneumonia.