Journal of clinical pharmacology
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Severe sepsis is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in critically ill children. Meropenem is a broad-spectrum antibiotic commonly used to treat sepsis. Current meropenem dosage recommendations for children on continuous renal replacement therapy are extrapolated from pharmacokinetic (PK) studies done in adults. ⋯ A 2-compartment model best characterized meropenem PK. Mean (range) clearance and elimination half-life was 0.091 L/h/kg (0.04-0.157) and 3.9 hours (2.1-7.5), respectively. Dosing of 40 mg/kg/dose every 12 hours over 30 minutes achieved PK/PD target in only 32% while 20 mg/kg every 8 hours over 4 hours or 40 mg/kg every 8 hours over 2 hours achieved 100% ƒT>MIC target for at least 90% of simulated patients.