Kivonat:
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical
effectiveness of meropenem in immunocompromised children.
Between January 1998 and December 2002 in the hemato-oncological
units of our hospital meropenem was used in 87 febrile events
diagnosed in 55 patients, and 328 bacterial cultures were
evaluated. Microorganisms were detected and identified in 64 of
the 328 hemocultures; there was a predominance of gram-positive
strains (67%). In 49.4% the infection was documented
microbiologically. In 16 additional cases the infection was
proven clinically and 32.2% of the episodes were considered to
be fever of unknown origin. The success rate of the meropenem
therapy-excluding the proven fungal or coagulase-negative
Staphylococcus infections--was 72.9% and for the whole cohort
49.4%. The results demonstrate that meropenem is effective and
well-tolerated when used for the treatment of neutropenic cancer
children.