Table 1.
Demographics and baseline characteristics of randomized patients
| Characteristics | Infusion group (n = 120) |
Bolus group (n = 120) |
P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 44.9 ± 17.8 | 47.2 ± 16.3 | 0.503 |
| Male | 78 (65.0%) | 83 (69.2%) | 0.583 |
| Weight (kg) | 78 (70.0 to 90.0) | 80 (72.0 to 95.5) | 0.079 |
| APACHE II | 21.4 ± 7.9 | 22.1 ± 8.79 | 0.545 |
| SOFA | 10.4 ± 2.9 | 10.6 ± 3.5 | 0.738 |
| GFR calculated by MDRD (ml/s) | 1.20 (0.77 to 1.80) | 1.19 (0.88 to 1.59) | 0.813 |
| Diagnostic group n (%) | |||
| Cardiac surgery | 4 (3.3%) | 2 (1.7%) | 0.685 |
| Neurology and neurosurgery | 3 (2.5%) | 3 (2.5%) | 1,000 |
| Surgery | 18 (15.0%) | 30 (25.0%) | 0.075 |
| Gastroenterology | 22 (18.3%) | 14 (11.7%) | 0.205 |
| Traumatology | 43 (35.8%) | 45 (37.5%) | 0.788 |
| Respiratory failure | 2 (1.7%) | 7 (5.8%) | 0.171 |
| Circulatory failure | 24 (20.0%) | 18 (15.0%) | 0.396 |
| Other | 4 (3.3%) | 1 (0.8%) | 0.370 |
| Type of infection n (%) | |||
| Not identified | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (1.6%) | 0.498 |
| Abdominal | 23 (19.2%) | 31 (25.8%) | 0.357 |
| Respiratory | 66 (55.0%) | 61 (50.8%) | 0.605 |
| Soft tissues, skin | 5 (4.2%) | 6 (5.0%) | 1.000 |
| Bloodstream | 10 (8.3%) | 11 (9.2%) | 1.000 |
| Uroinfection | 11 (9.2%) | 6 (5.0%) | 0.314 |
| Central nervous system | 3 (2.5%) | 2 (1.6%) | 1.000 |
| More sources | 2 (1.6%) | 1 (0.8%) | 1.000 |
| Nosocomial infection | 110 (91.7%) | 113 (94.2%) | 0,616 |
| Concomitant ATB therapy n (%) | 58 (48.3%) | 61 (50.8%) | 0.796 |
| Concomitant ATB therapy potentially active against GNB | 11 (9.2%) | 6 (5.0%) | 0.314 |
| Previous ATB therapy n (%) | 114 (95.0%) | 113 (94.2%) | 1.000 |
| Previous ATB therapy (days) | 7.0 (6.0 to 8.0) | 7.0 (6.0 to 8.0) | 0.338 |
| Number of previous ATB | 3 (3 to 5) | 4 (3 to 5) | 0.509 |
| Empiric therapy n (%) | 6 (5.0%) | 7 (5.8%) | 1.000 |
| Length of ICU stay before meropenem therapy (days) | 9.0 (5.0 to 16.0) | 7.0 (3.0 to 11.0) | 0.036 |
| Leucocytes (x 109/L) | 15.9 (11.5 to 21.1) | 14.1 (11.2 to 19.6) | 0.437 |
| CRP (mg/L) | 155 (115 to 197) | 199 (117 to 262) | 0.090 |
Values are presented as absolute (percentage) or mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range). APACHE II, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II; ATB, antibiotic; CRP, C-reactive protein; GFR, Glomerular filtration rate; GNB, Gram-negative bacteria; ICU, intensive care unit; MDRD, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease; SOFA, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment.