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Meropenem is an antibiotic from the carbaoenem group with a broad spectrum of antibacterial and bactericidal activity against strains resistant to antibiotic therapy.
How Meropenem works
Meropenem is bactericidal by inhibiting cell wall synthesis and lysis of the bacterial cell. Its action is similar to that of penicillin binding proteins. The antibiotic effect lasts for 4 hours after taking the drug. Meropenem is active against staphylococci, streptococci and many other gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, including E. coli. Meropenem resistance is shown, inter alia, by methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Meropenem is well absorbed and penetrates most body fluids and tissues. Its antibacterial effect lasts for several hours.
Indications for use of Meropenem
Meropenem is used to treat a number of serious bacterial infections, including meningeal infections. This antibiotic is also used to treat abdominal infections, nosocomial and community-acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infections, infections of the reproductive organs and small pelvis, in the treatment of skin infections and sepsis (sepsis). Meropenem is also used to treat some viral and fungal infections. It can be combined with other medications, including other antibiotics. Meropenem is only used to treat serious infections or when other antibiotics have failed and only when the strain of bacteria responsible for the infection is sensitive to meropenem.
Dosage of Meropenem
Meropenem dosing is determined exactly according to your doctor’s indications. The usual dose is three doses per day divided into 500 mg every 8 hours. Meropenem is given as an injection of not less than 5 minutes or as an infusion (drip) over 15-30 minutes.
Contraindications to the use of Meropenem
Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of the preparation is a contraindication to the use of Meropenem. Particular care should be taken in patients who are allergic to other antibiotics. Meropenem is not recommended for use in infants under 3 months of age. Meropenem should not be given to patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless clearly necessary. Before administering Meropenem, the type of bacterial strain responsible for the infection should be carefully determined – this antibiotic must not be given to patients infected with strains that are resistant to metacycline therapy. Meropenem is not indicated in renal failure – in dialysis patients the recommended dose according to the severity of the infection should be given after hemodialysis is completed, as dialysis increases the excretion of the antibiotic from the body and reduces its effect.
Possible side effects of Meropenem
Meropenem can cause injection site inflammation, thrombophlebitis, injection site pain, erythema, itching, hives, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, enteritis, changes in blood count, paraesthesia and dizziness. Anaphylactic reactions, including angioedema and severe skin reactions, may occur in rare cases. One of the side effects of Meropenem is oral or vaginal thrush.
Precautions when taking Meropenem
Meropenem solution must not be frozen. It is a very powerful antibiotic and should be kept out of the reach of unauthorized persons.