R R

What Is Meropenem?

Meropenem is a prescription carbapenem antibacterial administered intravenously. Current injection vials contain 500 mg or 1 g of meropenem. It treats selected complicated skin and skin structure infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and bacterial meningitis in pediatric patients age 3 months and older when caused by susceptible organisms.

Link to This Resource Page

Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.

To display this...

What Is Meropenem?

Meropenem is a prescription carbapenem antibacterial administered intravenously. Current injection vials contain 500 mg or 1 g of meropenem. It treats selected complicated skin and skin structure infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and bacterial meningitis in pediatric patients age 3 months and older when caused by susceptible organisms.

read more about meropenem ...

Copy this HTML:

Copy HTML Copied!

How Does Meropenem Kill Bacteria?

Meropenem binds to bacterial penicillin-binding proteins and interferes with cell wall synthesis. This weakens the bacterial cell wall and causes susceptible bacteria to die. Its antibacterial spectrum includes selected gram-positive, gram-negative, and anaerobic organisms.

Who Is Treated With Meropenem?

Meropenem is used in adults and pediatric patients with qualifying complicated skin or intra-abdominal infections. It is also labeled for bacterial meningitis in pediatric patients age 3 months and older. Complicated intra-abdominal infections have additional dosing instructions for infants younger than 3 months. Treatment is selected according to the suspected or confirmed bacteria and clinical condition.

How Is Meropenem Dosed?

Adults commonly receive 500 mg intravenously every eight hours for complicated skin and skin structure infections or 1 g every eight hours for complicated intra-abdominal infections. Skin infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa use 1 g every eight hours. Pediatric patients age 3 months and older receive 10 mg, 20 mg, or 40 mg per kg every eight hours according to the infection. Adults with creatinine clearance of 50 mL per minute or less require dose adjustment.

What Serious Risks Are Linked to Meropenem?

Serious concerns include severe allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, seizures, severe skin reactions, rhabdomyolysis, and Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea. Meropenem can markedly decrease valproic acid concentrations and increase breakthrough seizure risk. Kidney impairment increases the risk of drug accumulation and adverse neurologic reactions. Previous anaphylaxis to beta-lactam antibiotics is a contraindication.

Frequently Asked Questions About Meropenem

What infections does meropenem treat?

Meropenem treats selected complicated skin infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and bacterial meningitis in eligible pediatric patients.

How is meropenem administered?

Meropenem is administered intravenously by a trained healthcare professional.

What is the usual adult dose for complicated intra-abdominal infections?

The recommended adult dose is 1 g intravenously every eight hours when kidney function is adequate.

Can meropenem interact with valproic acid?

Yes. Meropenem can substantially reduce valproic acid concentrations, increasing the risk of breakthrough seizures.

References

Carbapenems. LiverTox. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548705/. Date Accessed October 14, 2026.

DailyMed - MEROPENEM injection, powder, for solution. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=e8848f4a-bca9-4978-b0a1-38483fd4d639. Date Accessed October 14, 2026.

Meropenem. LiverTox. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547861/. Date Accessed October 14, 2026.

Meropenem. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Meropenem. Date Accessed October 14, 2026.

Meropenem Injection. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a696038.html. Date Accessed October 14, 2026.