Abstract
We studied the clinical efficacy of meropenem (MEPM), a newly developed carbapenem antibiotic, in 13 cases of respiratory tract infections. Nine patients with pneumonia, one with chronic bronchitis, one with diffuse panbronchiolitis, one with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis and one with septic pulmonary embolism were treated with MEPM, which was given intravenously at a dose of 1000 or 2000 mg per a day.
Clinical efficacy was excellent in 3, good in 4, fair in 2, and unknown in 4.
As side effects, flushing was observed in one patient and rash in one. As abnormal laboratory findings, slightly elevated GOT and GPT were noted in one case, and slightly elevated urobilinogen in one case.
Based on these results, MEPM was evaluated to be a useful drug in respiratory tract infections.
