Carbapenems, beta-lactam antibiotics, are ideal candidates for the treatment of serious nosocomial infections including sepsis for their exceptionally broad antibacterial spectrum and high efficiency. They are administered parenterally by intravenous infusion. Carbapenems penetrate well and rapidly into many different tissue compartments and the interstitial fluid. They are metabolized by renal dihydropeptidase-1. Therefore, imipenem must be co-administered with an inhibitor of dihydropeptidase-1. Other carbapenems registered in the Czech Republic (meropenem, ertapenem and doripenem) are more stable to this enzyme. Carbapenems are mainly eliminated via the kidneys and dose adjustment in patients with renal impairment is necessary. The elimination half-life of most carbapenems is around 1 hour with the exception of ertapenem, with 3.8-hour half-life, which allows its once-daily use. Carbapenems are a group of antibiotics with time-dependent effect. Their typical pharmaceutical property is a limited stability in solution after dilution. Administration in the prolonged infusion appears to be a convenient strategy to achieve higher efficiency. Pharmacokinetic parameters of carbapenems may vary individually, especially in critically ill patients and those treated by renal replacement therapy. Therefore, individualization of dosing regimens based on knowledge of pharmacokinetic parameters of individual patients may be useful.

Department of Pharmacology Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc Czech Republic