TABLE 7.

Carbapenem dosing guidelines^a

Carbapenem	Indication	Neonates		Infants/pediatrics		Adults
Meropenem	Sepsis/other (nonmeningitis)	<32 wks GA, <14 days PNA	20 mg/kg of body weight/dose q12h	20 mg/kg/dose q8h		1 g q8h
		<32 wks GA, ≥14 days PNA, or ≥32 wks GA	20 mg/kg/dose q8h
	Severe, meningitisb	<32 wks GA, <14 days PNA	40 mg/kg/dose q12h	40 mg/kg/dose q8h		2 g q8h
		<32 wks GA, ≥14 days PNA, or ≥32 wks GA	40 mg/kg/dose q8h
Ertapenem	Sepsis/other (nonmeningitis)	NA		15 mg/kg/dose q12h (max single dose, 500 mg)	≤12 yo	1 g q24h

^aGA, gestation age/postmenstrual age (in weeks); PNA, postnatal age (in days); q12h, every 12 h; q8h, every 8 h; NA, not applicable; q24h, every 24 h.

^bSevere defined as fulfilling criteria for empirical first-line therapy in severe/overwhelming sepsis (especially multiorgan dysfunction) requiring ventilatory and/or inotropic support for (i) severely ill neutropenic hemato-oncologic patients, (ii) severely ill patients with pneumonia/ARDS who may have suspected infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei, (iii) severely ill patients with intra-abdominal sepsis, and (iv) severely ill neonatal patients in intensive care unit with signs of worsening sepsis.