Imipenem/cilastatin as empirical treatment of severe infections in compromised patients.

Imipenem/cilastatin was administered as empirical treatment to 22 patients with severe infections, at dosages of 2 or 4 g/day, either alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside. The majority of patients had underlying diseases causing various degrees of immune system dysfunction. The overall cure rate was 77.2%, without significant differences according to the type of pathogen or dosage schedule; however one of the two observed failures was due to a resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Strains recovered from improved patients were all sensitive to the drug. Only mild adverse effects were evidenced, without any alteration of laboratory parameters. Imipenem/cilastatin may be useful as monotherapy in empirical treatment of severe infections in compromised patients.