Clinical pharmacokinetics of 3-h extended infusion of meropenem in adult patients with severe sepsis and septic shock: implications for empirical therapy against Gram-negative bacteria

Annals of Intensive Care

Table 2 Targets achieved with a 3-h extended infusion of meropenem 1000 mg 8 hourly

End point	Day 1 (Dose 1) (n = 24^a) (%)	Day 3 (Dose 7) (n = 23^b) (%)
Number of patients (%) with fT > 2 μg/mL > 40	24 (100)	23 (100)
Number of patients (%) with fT > 4 μg/mL > 40	16 (66.7)	14 (60.86)
Number of patients (%) with fT > 8 μg/mL > 40	9 (37.5)	8 (34.7)
Number of patients (%) with fT > 4 μg/mL > 100	0 (0)	0 (0)
Number of patients (%) with fT > 8 μg/mL > 100	0 (0)	0 (0)
Number of patients (%) achieving Cp > 2 μg/mL within 1 h	21 (87.5)	–
Number of patients (%) achieving Cp > 4 μg/mL within 1 h	18 (75)	–

fT > 2 μg/mL > 40: Plasma meropenem concentration exceeds 2 μg/mL for more than 40% of the 8-h dosing interval. fT > 4 μg/mL > 40: Plasma meropenem concentration exceeds, 4 μg/mL for more than 40% of the 8-h dosing interval. Cp > 2 μg/ml: Plasma meropenem concentration more than 2 μg/mL. Cp > 4 μg/mL: Plasma meropenem concentration more than 4 μg/mL
^aOne patient was withdrawn from the analysis as the blood samples were hemolyzed. ^bOne patient expired before collection of day 3 samples