Table 3 Infection severity and treatment-related variables differences by pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target attainment.

From: Meropenem dosing optimization on day 1 and steady state in critically ill patients without significant renal impairment

Characteristic

Occasion 1a

Occasion 2b

Target attainment (n = 24)

Non-target attainment (n = 5)

p valuec

Target attainment (n = 21)

Non-target attainment (n = 5)

p valuec

Mechanical ventilation, n (%)

17 (71)

3 (60)

0.634

18 (86)

3 (60)

0.190

Surgery in previous 24 h of the first PK sampling, n (%)

6 (25)

2 (40)

0.495

5 (24)

4 (80)

0.018*

Presence of shock (on sampling day), n (%)

12 (50)

3 (60)

0.684

9 (43)

1 (20)

0.345

Use of inotrope (on sampling day), n (%)

12 (50)

3 (60)

0.684

8 (38)

1 (20)

0.445

Administration method, n (%)

 Extended infusion

14 (82)

3 (18)

0.945

9 (64)

5 (36)

0.021*

 Continuous infusion

10 (83)

2 (17)

12 (100)

0 (0)

Dosing regimen, n (%)

 0.5 g q8H

0 (0)

1 (100)

0.244

0 (0)

2 (100)

0.010*

 1 g q8H

21 (84)

4 (16)

20 (87)

3 (13)

 2 g q8H

1 (100)

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

 1 g q12H

1 (100)

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

 2 g q12H

1 (100)

0 (0)

1 (100)

0 (0)

  1. PK = pharmacokinetic, q8H = every 8 h, q12H = every 12 h.
  2. aFor non-target attainment, 3 patients demonstrated sub-optimal concentrations and 2 patients demonstrated toxic concentrations.
  3. bFor non-target attainment, all patients demonstrated sub-optimal concentrations.
  4. cContinuous data were compared using the Mann–Whitney U-test, and categorical data were compared using the Pearson chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate. The value in bold with an asterisk (*) indicates statistical significance.
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