Meropenem   

FOI REFERENCE: 24561   FOI DATE: 28^th November 2024      

How many doses of each of the following strengths of Meropenem do you administer annually? (Figures below relate to vials issued from Pharmacy rather than administration dose)

• 500mg             818
• 1 gram             27,983
• 2 grams           0

What are the main areas of your hospital where Meropenem is used? Oncology, Haematology inpatient ward, ITUs, Acute respiratory.

What are the main conditions you use Meropenem to treat? In Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust antibiotic formulary- Meropenem may only be prescribed for the indication listed in the WAHT Antimicrobial Prescribing Guidelines- which is Intra-abdominal sepsis associated with ESBL-producers or other multidrug-resistant pathogens, surgical prophylaxis in patients where ESBL previously isolated, HAP/VAP in patients who have received therapy with piperacillin-tazobactam and/or 3rd generation cephalosporins recently, post-neurosurgical sepsis/meningitis, necrotising fasciitis/synergistic gangrene, neutropenic sepsis when piperacillin-tazobactam has failed or inappropriate or as recommended by microbiological sensitivities and/or may need consultant or specialist registrar authorisation.

How do you currently administer Meropenem via bolus or infusion? If you infuse, do you use gravity or pump sets? Refer to Medusa however generally given by bolus.

Where is your Meropenem currently reconstituted (e.g., wards or aseptic units)? Wards

Do you face any challenges when administering Meropenem? None apparent

Do you frequently experience drug shortages of Meropenem? Refer to SPC shortages

How many medication errors do you experience per month when administering Meropenem? Unknown however none report to our Lead Pharmacist – Antimicrobial Stewardship in the past 6 months.