A Real-Life Study of Prolonged Meropenem Infusion in Neonates and Children Admitted to Intensive Care Units: Are Three Hours Long Enough?

: Meropenem is a broad-spectrum antibiotic essential for treating resistant Gram-negative infections in pediatric patients. Current dosing recommendations may not consistently achieve optimal pharmacokinetic (PK) targets, especially in critically ill children. : We conducted a retrospective cohort study at IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, analyzing 97 plasma levels from 86 pediatric patients (<18 years) hospitalized between January 2020 and December 2023 in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit.

Miniature flow-injection analysis manifold created by micromilling.

The miniature flow injection analysis (muFIA) system is based on a mechanically engraved manifold in a PMMA-substrate. The channels have a trapezoidal cross-section with a depth of 150 mum and a width between 180 and 360 mum and the reactor volume is 3.75 mul.

Fast electrophoresis in conventional capillaries by employing a rapid injection device and contactless conductivity detection.

A purpose-made set-up featuring an automated fast injector allowed the easy optimization of the injected amount and the adjustment of the separation length of conventional capillaries from a minimum of 5 cm upward. It was found that a compromise in capillary length for separation efficiency and analysis time also has to take into account the injected amount, which in turn affects the sensitivity and hence the detection limit. The versatility of the system was demonstrated by the analysis of the major cations and anions in natural water samples in less than 1 min, the concurrent determination of a mixture of amino acids and carbohydrates in 160 s, and of three active ingredients in a pharmaceutical preparation in 40 s.