Evaluation of appropriateness of meropenem treatment and outcomes among internal medicine patients in…

Cohort studyBMC infectious diseases· Jul 2026

Evaluation of appropriateness of meropenem treatment and outcomes among internal medicine patients in Thailand.

Parichart Sakulkonkij, Jackrapong Bruminhent

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Internal MedicineCohort studyTreatmentQ1IF 3.2

Appropriate targeted meropenem therapy was more frequent in survivors.

Evaluation of appropriateness of meropenem treatment and outcomes among internal medicine patients in Thailand.

Parichart Sakulkonkij, Jackrapong Bruminhent

BMC infectious diseases · Jul 2026

Purpose

Carbapenems are commonly used empirically in referral hospitals; however, the appropriateness and outcomes of meropenem use in regional settings with rising multidrug resistance remain unclear.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of 528 patients who received at least 1 dose of meropenem in the internal medicine ward at Lampang hospital, Thailand during the study period (1 August 2022 and 31 December 2022).

Results

18.40%

vs. 9.91%

appropriate targeted meropenem treatment was more common in survivors

More results

Of these, 281 (53.22%) were survivors, while 247 (46.78%) were non-survivors.

Gram-negative bacteria were the most common infections, with 28.2% susceptible to carbapenems.

The most frequent pathogens were Acinetobacter baumannii (16.7%), followed by Escherichia coli (13.6%) and Klebsiella spp.

More results

Pneumonia (36.93%) and urinary tract infection (21.97%) were the most common sites of infection.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Although appropriate antibiotic coverage was more frequently observed among patients with favorable outcomes, severity of illness and organ dysfunction remained the primary determinants of survival.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Appropriate empirical and targeted therapy, alongside optimal critical care management, should be emphasized in the treatment of these severe infections in regional settings.

Evaluation of appropriateness of meropenem treatment and outcomes among internal medicine patients in Thailand.

Evaluation of appropriateness of meropenem treatment and outcomes among internal medicine patients in Thailand.

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