Ertapen

Treatment : Ertapen is indicated for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe infections caused by susceptible strains of microorganisms, as well as initial empiric therapy prior to the identification of causative organisms in the infections listed below:

Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections

... Read more Treatment : Ertapen is indicated for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe infections caused by susceptible strains of microorganisms, as well as initial empiric therapy prior to the identification of causative organisms in the infections listed below:

Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections

Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections including diabetic lower extremity and diabetic foot infections

Community Acquired Pneumonia

Complicated Urinary Tract Infections including pyelonephritis

Acute Pelvic Infections including postpartum endomyometritis, septic abortion and post surgical gynecologic infections

Bacterial Septicaemia

Prevention : Ertapen is indicated in adults for the prophylaxis of surgical site infection following elective colorectal surgery.

Ertapenem for Injection is a sterile, synthetic, long-acting, parenteral, 1-β methyl-carbapenem that is structurally related to beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillins and cephalosporins, with activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Ertapenem exhibits a bactericidal mode of action. It works by binding to and inhibiting bacterial penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). In Escherichia coli, it has a strong affinity toward PBPs 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4 and 5 with preferential binding to PBPs 2 and 3. Upon binding to PBPs, ertapenem inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by interfering with the lengthening and strengthening of the peptidoglycan portion of the cell wall, thereby inhibiting cell wall synthesis.

Adults (>12 years) : 1 gm given once a day. Pediatric (3 months to 12 years) : 15 mg/kg twice daily (not to exceed 1 g/day). Ertapenem may be administered by IV infusion or IM injection. When administered intravenously, it should be infused over a period of 30 minutes. IM administration of Ertapenem may be used as an alternative to IV administration in the treatment of those infections for which intramuscular therapy is appropriate. The usual duration of therapy with Ertapenem is 3 to 14 days but varies by the type of infection and causative pathogen(s). When clinically indicated, a switch to an appropriate oral antimicrobial maybe implemented if clinical improvement has been observed. Prophylaxis of surgical site infection following elective colorectal surgery : To prevent surgical site infections following surgery in adults, the recommended dosage is 1 g IV administered as a single intravenous dose given 1 hour prior to the surgical incision. Patients with renal insufficiency : Ertapenem may be used for the treatment of infections in adult patients with renal insufficiency. In patients whose creatinine clearance is >30 mL/min no dosage adjustment is necessary. Adult patients with advanced renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance ≤30 mL/min), including those on haemodialysis, should receive 500 mg daily. There are no data in paediatric patients with renal insufficiency. Patients on Haemodialysis : If Ertapenem is given at least 6 hours prior to haemodialysis, no supplementary dose is needed. When adult patients on haemodialysis are given Ertapenem within 6 hours prior to haemodialysis, a supplementary 30% dose is recommended following the haemodialysis session. There are no data in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis or haemofiltration. There are no data in paediatric patients on haemodialysis. No dosage adjustment is recommended in patients with impaired hepatic function

When Ertapen is administered with probenecid, probenecid competes for active tubular secretion and thus inhibits the renal excretion of Ertapen. This leads to small but statistically significant increases in the elimination half-life (19%) and in the extent of systemic exposure (25%). No dosage adjustment is necessary when Ertapen is given with probenecid. Because of the small effect on half-life, the co-administration with probenecid to extend the half-life of Ertapen is not recommended. Other than with probenecid, no specific clinical drug interaction studies have been conducted. Decreased serum levels of valproic acid with co-administration of Ertapen have been reported. Careful monitoring of serum levels of valproic acid should be considered if Ertapen is to be co-administered with valproic acid.

Ertapenem is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of this product or to other drugs in the same class or in patients who have demonstrated anaphylactic reactions to beta-lactams. Due to the use of lidocaine HCl as a diluent, intramuscular administration of Ertapenem is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to local anaesthetics of the amide type and in patients with severe shock or heart block.

Most adverse experiences reported in these clinical studies were described as mild to moderate in severity. The most common drug-related adverse experiences reported during parenteral therapy with Ertapen include Headache, Infused vein complication, phlebitis/ thrombophlebitis, Diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. Other uncommon side effects include- Dizziness, somnolence, insomnia, seizure, confusion, Extravasation, hypotension, Dyspnoea, Oral candidiasis, constipation, acid regurgitation, C. difficile-associated diarrhoea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, anorexia, Erythema, pruritus, Abdominal pain, taste perversion, asthenia/fatigue, candidiasis, oedema/swelling, fever, pain, chest pain, Vaginal pruritus.

Ertapenem has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Ertapenem should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the mother and foetus. Ertapenem is excreted in human milk. Caution should be exercised when Ertapenem is administered to a nursing woman.

Before initiating therapy with Ertapen, careful inquiry should be made concerning previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins, other beta-lactams and other allergens. If an allergic reaction to Ertapen occurs, discontinue the drug immediately. Serious anaphylactic reactions require immediate emergency treatment. As with other antibiotics, prolonged use of Ertapen may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms. Repeated evaluation of the patient's condition is essential. If superinfection occurs during therapy, appropriate measures should be taken. Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with nearly all antibacterial agents, including Ertapen, and may range in severity from mild to life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to consider this diagnosis in patients who present with diarrhoea subsequent to the administration of antibacterial agents. Studies indicate that a toxin produced by Clostridium difficile is a primary cause of "antibiotic-associated colitis".

No specific information is available on the treatment of overdosage with Ertapen. Intravenous administration of Ertapen at a 3 g daily dose for 8 days to healthy adult volunteers did not result in significant toxicity. In pediatric clinical studies, a single IV dose of 40 mg/kg up to a maximum of 2 g did not result in toxicity. In the event of an overdose, Ertapen should be discontinued and general supportive treatment given until renal elimination takes place. Ertapen can be removed by haemodialysis; however, no information is available on the use of haemodialysis to treat overdosage.

For injection: Store at 2-8°C. Keep away from light and out of the reach of children. For auxiliaries pack: Do not store above 30°C. Keep away from light and out of the reach of children.