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In vitro Effects of Meropenem and Imipenem/Cilastatin on Some Functions of Human Natural Effector Cells

2000; Karger Publishers; Volume: 46; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1159/000007268

1421-9794

Paola Cornacchione, Lucia Scaringi, Enrico Capodicasa, Katia Fettucciari, Emanuela Rosati, Rita Sabatini, Celso Eduardo Benedetti, P Marconi, Ruggero Rossi, A. Del Favero,

Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions

Meropenem, a new carbapenem antibiotic, was assessed to evaluate its effects on some functional parameters of human polymorphonuclear (PMN) and natural killer (NK) cells in comparison with imipenem/cilastatin. Both drugs significantly inhibited PMN phagocytosis and chemotaxis at concentrations of 2,000 and 4,000 μg/ml. They affected PMN microbicidal activity, evaluated against <i>Candida albicans</i>, only at 4,000 μg/ml. A study of the effects of both drugs on peripheral NK populations and the human NK line (NK-92) showed that even at 4,000 μg/ml there was no effect on antitumor activity. These data indicate that meropenem can reduce some PMN antimicrobial functions only at very high concentrations like imipenem/cilastatin, whereas no concentration influenced NK activity.