meropenem and Anuria

A 49-year-old man presented with fever and uremic symptoms such as general malaise, leg edema and decreased urine output. He was diagnosed as having infective endocarditis (IE) accompanied by renal failure. Although he had been receiving hemodialysis for a long time, renal function dramatically improved after heart valve replacement. This case suggests that uremia can develop as an initial manifestation of IE and removal of an infected heart valve can improve renal function despite persistent renal failure. From the perspective of recovery of renal function, early surgery should be considered in patients with renal failure following IE.

Topics: Anuria; Aortic Valve; Diagnosis, Differential; Echocardiography, Doppler; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Humans; Male; Meropenem; Middle Aged; Thienamycins; Uremia

Rhabdomyolysis is associated with infectious diseases in approximately 5% of cases and acute kidney injury occurs in 33-50% of cases. Gangrenous myositis is a deep seated infection of the subcutaneous and muscular tissues. We report the case of an 18 year-old man who was admitted to the emergency room with leg pain, fever, nausea, vomiting and oliguria. Physical examination showed moderate dehydration, peripheral cyanosis and skin necrosis with severe myalgia and no subcutaneous gas. Laboratory findings at admission were: serum urea 111 mg/dL, creatinine 1.3 mg/dL, potassium 6.3 mEq/L, creatine kinase (CK) 112,452 IU/L, aspartate amino transaminase (AST) 1116 IU/L, alanine amino transaminase (ALT) 1841 IU/L, pH 7.31, bicarbonate (HCO3) 11 mEq/L and lactate 4.3 mmol/L. Emergency hemodyalisis was started, and antibiotics were given due to high suspicion for bacterial infection. The patient developed respiratory insufficiency and septic shock needing mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs. He presented spontaneous gangrenous myositis in both legs and in his left arm. After 26 sessions of hemodialysis, partial recovery of renal function was observed. He was discharged from the ICU after 38 days, still with leg pain. Acute kidney injury due to rhabdomyolysis should be considered as a possible complication of gangrenous myositis.

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adolescent; Amputation, Surgical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anuria; Debridement; Drug Therapy, Combination; Emergencies; Follow-Up Studies; Gangrene; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Leg; Male; Meropenem; Myositis; Renal Dialysis; Rhabdomyolysis; Running; Teicoplanin; Thienamycins; Time Factors

Meropenem is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for severe infections. In patients with chronic end-stage renal failure, meropenem clearance is reduced and doses must be adjusted according to the creatinine clearance. The aim of this study was to assess pharmacokinetic data of meropenem in patients with acute renal failure and to determine the amount of drug removed by continuous venovenous hemofiltration, an often-used renal replacement therapy in patients with acute renal failure.. Nine critically ill anuric patients with acute renal failure undergoing continuous venovenous hemofiltration received 500 mg meropenem 2 or 3 times daily. Plasma and hemofiltrate concentrations were determined during 1 dosing interval at steady state. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated for a 2-compartment open model and dose requirements were calculated.. The total meropenem clearance was 52.0 +/- 8.4 mL/min, with a hemofiltration clearance of 22.0 +/- 4.7 mL/min and a nonrenal-nonhemofiltration clearance of 29.9 +/- 5.4 mL/min; 235.9 +/- 88.6 mg, or 47.2% +/- 17.7%, of the dose were removed through continuous venovenous hemofiltration. The terminal elimination half-life was 8.7 +/- 3.5 hours and the volume of distribution at steady state was 12.4 +/- 1.8 L. Peak and trough concentrations for a dosing interval of 12 hours were 38.9 +/- 9.7 mg/L and 7.3 +/- 1.3 mg/L, respectively. The corresponding concentrations for a dosing interval of 8 hours were 44.7 +/- 10.4 mg/L and 11.9 +/- 0.7 mg/L, respectively.. Pharmacokinetic data of anuric patients with acute renal failure were similar to those of patients with end-stage renal failure. Because hemofiltration contributes significantly to meropenem elimination, the recommended dose for critically ill anuric patients receiving continuous venovenous hemofiltration should be increased by 100% to avoid potential underdosing.

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Aged; Anuria; Creatinine; Critical Illness; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Hemofiltration; Humans; Male; Meropenem; Middle Aged; Thienamycins