The Etiology of CAP Remains Elusive – A Call to Change Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns

Once upon a time – not so long ago – we were taught the following: Streptococcus pneumoniae was the cause of 90% of CAP cases. That statement was later modified to mean S. pneumoniae was the underlying pathogen in 90% of bacterial cases of CAP, i.e., those with positive cultures from sputum or Continue reading The Etiology of CAP Remains Elusive – A Call to Change Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns

Meropenem Dosing for VAP: High + Prolonged Beats Conventional Dosing

Sometimes an article pops up addressing a question we have been mulling over for quite some time.  It so happened with a recent publication which shed new light on penem dosing for ICU patients[1]. Conducted at a single Belgian centre (sic!), a standard dose of meropenem (1 g IV q8h Continue reading Meropenem Dosing for VAP: High + Prolonged Beats Conventional Dosing

Why Did PK/PD Modeling Fail Doripenem in VAP?

When imipenem is dosed at 1 g q8h for serious infections, it is infused over 40-60 min. Its label states that it is indicated for “lower RTI”, an old-fashioned term from the days when bronchitis and pneumonias were still lumped together, CAP was not differentiated from HAP, and HAP and Continue reading Why Did PK/PD Modeling Fail Doripenem in VAP?