2.1 Adult Patients
Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP in the DUPLEX® Container should be used only in patients who require the entire 500 mg or 1 gram dose and not any fraction thereof. The recommended dose of Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP is 500 mg given every 8 hours for skin and skin structure infections and 1 gram given every 8 hours for intra-abdominal infections. When treating complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by P. aeruginosa, a dose of 1 gram every 8 hours is recommended.
Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP should be administered by intravenous infusion over approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
2.2 Use in Adult Patients with Renal Impairment
Dosage should be reduced in patients with creatinine clearance of 50 mL/min or less. (See dosing table below.)
Dosage should be reduced in renal failure if less than a full dose (1 gram or 500 mg) is required and an alternative formulation should be used to avoid risk of overdose.
When only serum creatinine is available, the following formula (Cockcroft and Gault equation)5 may be used to estimate creatinine clearance.
Males: Creatinine Clearance (mL/min) =
Weight (kg) x (140 - age)
72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL)
Females: 0.85 x above value
Table 1: Recommended Meropenem for Injection Dosage Schedule for Adult Patients With Renal Impairment
Creatinine Clearance (mL/min)
Dose (dependent on type of infection)
Dosing Interval
greater than 50
Recommended dose (500 mg cSSSI and 1 gram Intra-abdominal infection)
Every 8 hours
greater than 25-50
Recommended dose
Every 12 hours
10-25
One-half recommended dose
Every 12 hours
less than 10
One-half recommended dose
Every 24 hours
There is inadequate information regarding the use of meropenem for injection in patients on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
2.3 Use in Pediatric Patients (3 Months of age and older only)
Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP in the DUPLEX® Container is designed to deliver a 500 mg or 1 gram dose of meropenem. To prevent unintentional overdose, this product should not be used in pediatric patients who require less than the full adult dose of meropenem. Meropenem is not to be used in pediatric patients aged less than three months. There is no experience in pediatric patients with renal impairment. (See dosing table below.) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4)].
Pediatric patients weighing over 50 kg should be administered Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP at a dose of 500 mg every 8 hours for complicated skin and skin structure infections, 1 gram every 8 hours for intra-abdominal infections and 2 grams every 8 hours for meningitis. Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP should be given as intravenous infusion over approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
Table 2: Recommended Meropenem for Injection Dosage Schedule for Pediatric Patients With Normal Renal Function
Type of Infection
Dose (mg/kg)
Up to a Maximum Dose
Dosing Interval
Complicated skin and skin structure
10
500 mg
Every 8 hours
Intra-abdominal
20
1 gram
Every 8 hours
Meningitis
40
2 grams
Every 8 hours
When treating complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by P. aeruginosa, a dose of 20 mg/kg (or 1 gram for pediatric patients weighing over 50 kg) every 8 hours is recommended.
There is no experience in pediatric patients with renal impairment.
2.4 Preparation and Administration of Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP in DUPLEX® Container
This reconstituted solution is for intravenous use only.
Do not use plastic containers in series connections. Such use would result in air embolism due to residual air being drawn from the primary container before administration of the fluid from the secondary container is complete. If administration is controlled by a pumping device, care must be taken to discontinue pumping action before the container runs dry or air embolism may result.
Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. Use only if solution is clear and container and seals are intact.
DUPLEX® Container Storage
To avoid inadvertent activation, the DUPLEX® Container should remain in the folded position until activation is intended.
Patient Labeling and Drug Powder/Diluent Inspection
Apply patient-specific label on foil side of container. Use care to avoid activation. Do not cover any portion of foil strip with patient label.
Unlatch side tab and unfold DUPLEX® Container (see Diagram 1).
Visually inspect diluent chamber for particulate matter.
Use only if container and seals are intact.
To inspect the drug powder for foreign matter or discoloration, peel foil strip from drug chamber (see Diagram 2).
Protect from light after removal of foil strip.
Note: If foil strip is removed, the container should be re-folded and the side tab latched until ready to activate. The product must then be used within 7 days at room temperature, but not beyond the labeled expiration date.
Reconstitution (Activation)
Do not use directly after storage by refrigeration, allow the product to equilibrate to room temperature before patient use.
Unfold the DUPLEX® Container and point the set port in a downward direction. Starting at the hanger tab end, fold the DUPLEX® Container just below the diluent meniscus trapping all air above the fold. To activate, squeeze the folded diluent chamber until the seal between the diluent and powder opens, releasing diluent into the drug powder chamber (see Diagram 3).
Agitate the liquid-powder mixture until the drug powder is completely dissolved.
Note: Following reconstitution (activation), product must be used within 1 hour if stored at room temperature or within 15 hours if stored under refrigeration.
Administration
Visually inspect the reconstituted solution for particulate matter.
Point the set port in a downwards direction. Starting at the hanger tab end, fold the DUPLEX® Container just below the solution meniscus trapping all air above the fold. Squeeze the folded DUPLEX® Container until the seal between reconstituted drug solution and set port opens, releasing liquid to set port (see Diagram 4).
Prior to attaching the IV set, check for minute leaks by squeezing container firmly. If leaks are found, discard container and solution as sterility may be compromised.
Using aseptic technique, peel foil cover from the set port and attach sterile administration set (see Diagram 5).
Refer to directions for use accompanying the administration set.
Important Administration Instructions
Do not use in series connections.
Do not introduce additives into the DUPLEX® Container.
Administer Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP intravenously over approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
2.5 Compatibility
Compatibility of Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP with other drugs has not been established. Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP should not be mixed with or physically added to solutions containing other drugs.
2.6 Stability and Storage
Freshly prepared solutions of Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP should be used. Following reconstitution (activation) in the DUPLEX® Container, the product maintains satisfactory potency for 1 hour at up to 25ºC (77ºF) or for 15 hours at up to 5ºC (41ºF). Solutions of intravenous Meropenem for Injection USP and Sodium Chloride Injection USP should not be frozen.
NOTE: Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.