Bile levels of imipenem following different dose regimens

Seventeen patients received either 500 mg (9 patients) or 1000 mg (8 patients) of imipenem following bile duct surgery with indwelling Kehr-T-drainage which permitted the measurement of bile levels. Bile and blood specimens were taken at the following time intervals: control value prior to the 20 min-imipenem-infusion, then at 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 240 and 300 min after administration of imipenem. In addition, a blood specimen was drawn after 360 min. Three patients of the 500 mg-group and 6 patients of the 1000 mg-group received a second dose after 4 h. The specimens were taken at the same intervals as mentioned above. It was shown that a spaced dose of 500 mg imipenem thrice daily would be sufficient to treat infections by sensitive pathogens of the bile ducts.