Higher rates of carbapenem-related seizures in older hospitalised adults

Challenges of antimicrobial stewardship among older adults

Older adults hospitalized in internal medicine wards or long-term care facilities (LTCF) are progressively increasing. Older adults with multimorbidity are more susceptible to infections, as well as to more vulnerable to adverse effects (and interactions) of antibiotics, resulting in a need for effective and safer strategies for antimicrobial stewardship (ASM), both in hospitalization wards and long-term care facilities. Studies on antimicrobial stewardship in older patients are scarce and guidelines are required. Given the peculiarities of the optimization of antimicrobial prescription in individual older adults for common infections, tactics to overcome barriers need an update. The use of rapid diagnosis tests, biomarkers, de-escalation and switching from intravenous to oral/subcutaneous therapy strategies are examples of successful AMS interventions. AMS interventions are associated with reduced side effects, lower mortality, shorter hospital stays, and reduced costs. The proposed AMS framework in LTCF should focus on five domains: strategic vision, team, interventions, patient-centred care and awareness. Internists can partner with geriatrists, pharmacists and infectious disease specialists to address barriers and to improve patient care.

Pharmacokinetics of benapenem for injection in subjects with mild to moderate renal impairment

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of benapenem in subjects with mild to moderate renal impairment to provide a reference for benapenem dosing regimens in this patient population.

METHODS

Eighteen subjects were enrolled in this study. Each subject received a single dose of benapenem intravenously (1.0 g in 100 ml of 0.9% saline) followed by blood and urine collection to measure the concentrations of benapenem and its major metabolite. PK analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of varying degrees of renal impairment on the PK characteristics of benapenem. The safety of benapenem was also evaluated.

RESULTS

In subjects with normal renal function, mild renal impairment, and moderate renal impairment, the maximum plasma benapenem concentrations were 163 ± 6.58 mg/L, 138 ± 17.4 mg/L, and 134 ± 0.11 mg/L, respectively (15.3% and 17.8% lower in subjects with mild and moderate renal impairment, respectively, than in subjects with normal renal function). The areas under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC_0-inf) were 1153.67 ± 143.2 mg·h/L, 1129.17 ± 241.41 mg·h/L, and 1316.46 ± 229.83 mg·h/L, respectively (P > 0.05); the cumulative urinary excretion rates at 72 h after dosing were 52.61 ± 8.58%, 39.42 ± 8.35%, and 29.84 ± 9.15%, respectively; and the metabolic ratio (AUC_0-inf__KBP-3331/AUC_0-inf__benapenem) were 3.96 ± 0.35%, 5.56 ± 0.82%, and 8.24 ± 0.85%, respectively. No drug-related adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, or AEs leading to withdrawal occurred in this study.

CONCLUSION

No adjustment to benapenem dosing is needed in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Drug clinical trial registration and information publicity platform: http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/index.html .

REGISTRATION NUMBER

CTR20190760.