TABLE 1.
Demographic characteristics of evaluable patients
| Characteristic | Meropenem | Cefuroxime-gentamicin (±metronidazole) |
|---|---|---|
| No. of patients | 37 | 33 |
| Sex (no. of males/no. of females) | 20/17 | 25/8 |
| Mean age, yr (range) | 76 (67–89) | 76 (65–91) |
| Mean treatment duration, days (range) | 7.5 (3–21) | 7.4 (3–17) |
| Mean APACHE II score (range) | 18 (10–29) | 20 (6–41) |
| No. of patients with indicated underlying diseasea | ||
| Bronchopulmonary | 19 | 12 |
| Cardiovascular | 48 | 45 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 4 | 6 |
| Gastrointestinal | 27 | 18 |
| Genitourinary | 12 | 13 |
| Immunocompromised | 5 | 3 |
| Neurological | 8 | 15 |
| Other | 19 | 22 |
a
Patients may have had more than one underlying disease.