Efficacy and safety of imipenem/cilastatin: a review of worldwide clinical experience.

The clinical experience of 1,723 patients treated with imipenem/cilastatin in worldwide clinical trials is reviewed. Dosages of imipenem administered parenterally with cilastatin varied with the severity of the infection and included 250 mg four times a day; 500 mg three or four times a day, and 1 g three of four times a day. Infections of all body systems except the central nervous system due to gram-positive or gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes as well as those due to mixed organisms were treated. Clinical efficacy was demonstrated in 92% of infections. The adverse clinical and laboratory experiences associated with imipenem/cilastatin were similar to those of other beta-lactam agents and included disturbances of gastrointestinal and central nervous system function, allergic reactions, and transient elevations of liver enzyme levels.