IMIPENEM 500mg/ CILASTATIN sodium 500mg, powder, vial
Valid Article
IMIPENEM / CILASTATIN
- In the WHO list of Essential Medicines 2023 (Therapeutic alternative to meropenem)
Therapeutic Action
Antibacterial for systemic use, from carbapenem group
Broad spectrum antibiotic
Imipenem is always combined with cilastatin (no antibacterial activity) to inhibit a renal enzyme that inactivates imipenem.
Indications
Treatment of severe infections caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) in adults and adolescents (from 15 years of age and > 30 kg).
- See: Consolidated Guidelines on DR-TB Treatment, WHO, 2019
- See: endTB Clinical and Programmatic Guide for Patient Management with New TB Drugs, 2018
- See: Pathogen-Specific, Targeted Antibiotic Therapy for Bacteremia and Bone and Joint, Urinary Tract, and Central Nervous System Infections. MSF internal protocol, 2019
- See: Tuberculosis, MSF, 2024
Instructions for use
Reconstitute the powder vial with 20 ml of 0.9% NaCl to obtain a reconstituted solution at 25 mg/ml imipenem.
The reconstituted solution must be given as deep IV infusion in 100 ml of 0.9% NaCl.
Administer clavulanic acid PO, 60 min prior each dose of imipenem/ cilastatin for prevention of carbapenem resistance.
Precautions for Use
Do not use in patients < 15 years and < 30 kg. Use meropenem in that case.
Do not mix with ringer lactate (incompatibility); can be administered via the Y-site.
May cause gastrointestinal disturbances, neurotoxicity and hypersensitivity reactions.
Storage
- Below 25ºC - Protect from sunlight
- After reconstitution, the solution remains stable for 4 hrs at room temperature or 24 hrs between 2ºC and 8ºC.
- The reconstituted solution may turn colourless to pale yellow (no loss of activity). Discard if the solution turns brown.