[Investigation of meropenem levels in the human bone marrow blood, bone, joint fluid and joint tissues]

A solution of 0.5 g of meropenem (MEPM) in 100 ml of saline was administered to adult patients before the orthopaedic surgery via intravenous drip infusion for 30 minutes. Eleven samples of bone marrow blood, 13 bone, 8 joint fluid and 8 joint tissues obtained from 15 clinical cases were analyzed for MEPM levels. At the same time, blood samples were taken from peripheral veins and serum served as control was analyzed. The concentration of MEPM in the marrow blood at 30 minutes after administration of MEPM reached 15.4 micrograms/ml, which was above 50% of the maximum concentration in serum. Ratios of concentration in bone marrow to that in serum were between 93% and 105% at that time. MEPM levels were 5.74-0.40 micrograms/g in bones, 20.3-4.55 micrograms/ml in joint fluid and 18.2-4.05 micrograms/g in joint tissues at 30 to 75 minutes after administration. In joint fluid and joint tissues, the concentration above 50% of maximum level in serum were maintained for more than an hour. MEPM is thought to be useful for the treatment of bone and joint infections and also prophylaxis of infections in cases of major surgery of skeletal tissue in the field of orthopaedic surgery.