Pharmacokinetics of Ertapenem in Patients With Varying Degrees of Renal Insufficiency and in Patients on Hemodialysis

Ertapenem is a parenteral β‐lactam carbapenem antibiotic. This open‐label study examined the pharmacokinetics of single 1‐g intravenous doses of ertapenem, administered over 30 minutes, in patients with mild, moderate, and advanced renal insufficiency (RI) and in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring hemodialysis. Pharmacokinetics were compared with historical controls pooled across healthy young and elderly subjects. Area under the concentration‐time curve from time zero to infinity increased 7% in mild, 53% in moderate, 158% in advanced RI, and 192% in ESRD; end of infusion concentration changed minimally; half‐life was 4.5 hours in the historical control group and 4.4, 6.1, 10.6, and 14.1 hours in mild RI, moderate RI, advanced RI, and ESRD, respectively. Hemodialysis cleared ∼30% of the dose. The recommended dose in mild to moderate RI and after hemodialysis is unchanged at 1 g daily; and in advanced RI and ESRD is reduced to 0.5 g daily. If the daily dose is given 6 hours prior to hemodialysis, a supplementary 150‐mg dose (30% of the daily dose) is recommended postdialysis.