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Sometimes an infection caused by bacteria does not respond to a course of an antibiotic. One of the commonest reasons for this to occur is because the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to the antibiotic that is being taken. This means that they can survive and even multiply despite the antibiotic.
Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics for many reasons. Using antibiotics carefully can help to reduce the chance of bacteria becoming resistant to them.
When your doctor prescribes a course of an antibiotic it is intended to treat only your current illness. Paying attention to the following advice will help prevent the emergence of resistant bacteria that could stop the antibiotic working.
1. It is very important that you take the antibiotic at the right dose, at the right times and for the right number of days. Read the instructions on the label and if you do not understand anything ask your pharmacist to explain.
2. You should not take an antibiotic unless it has been prescribed specifically for you and you should use it only to treat the infection for which it was prescribed.
3. You should not take antibiotics that have been prescribed for other people even if they had an infection that was similar to yours.
4. You should not give antibiotics that were prescribed for you to other people.
5. If you have any antibiotic left over when you have taken the course as directed by your doctor you should take the remainder to a pharmacy for appropriate disposal.
The following information is intended for healthcare professionals only: Instructions for giving MEROPENEM to yourself or someone else at home: Some patients, parents and carers are trained to give MEROPENEM at home.
Warning: You should only give this medicine to yourself or someone else at home after a doctor or nurse has trained you.
The medicine must be mixed with another liquid (the diluent). Your doctor will tell you how much of the diluent to use.
Use the medicine straight after preparing it. Do not freeze it.
How to prepare this medicine: 1. Wash your hands and dry them very well. Prepare a clean working area.
2. Remove the MEROPENEM vial from the packaging. Check the vial and the expiry date. Check that the vial is intact and has not been damaged.
3. Remove the cap and clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol wipe. Allow the rubber stopper to dry.
4. Connect a new sterile needle to a new sterile syringe, without touching the ends.
5. Draw up the recommended amount of sterile "Water for Injection" into the syringe. The amount of liquid that you need is shown in the table as follows: See table.
Note: If your prescribed dose of MEROPENEM is more than 1g, you will need to use more than 1 vial of MEROPENEM. You can then draw the liquid in the vials into the one syringe.
6. Put the needle of the syringe through the centre of the rubber stopper and inject the recommended amount of Water for injection into the vial or vials of MEROPENEM.
7. Remove the needle from the vial and shake the vial well for about 5 seconds, or until all the powder has dissolved. Clean the rubber stopper once more with a new alcohol wipe and allow the rubber stopper to dry.
8. With the plunger of the syringe pushed fully into the syringe, put the needle back through the rubber stopper. You must then hold both the syringe and the vial and turn the vial upside down.
9. Keeping the end of the needle in the liquid, pull back the plunger and draw all the liquid in the vial into the syringe.
10. Remove the needle and syringe from the vial and throw the empty vial away in a safe place.
11. Hold the syringe upright, with the needle pointing upwards. Tap the syringe so that any bubbles in the liquid rise to the top of the syringe.
12. Remove any air in the syringe by gently pushing the plunder until all the air has gone.
13. If you are using MEROPENEM at home, dispose of any needles and infusion lines that you have used in an appropriate way. If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, dispose of any unused MEROPENEM in an appropriate way.
Giving the injection: You can either give this medicine through a short cannula or venflon, or through a port or central line.
Giving MEROPENEM through a short cannula or venflon: 1. Remove the needle from the syringe and throw the needle away carefully in your sharps bin.
2. Wipe the end of the short cannula or venflon with an alcohol wipe and allow it to dry. Open the cap on your cannula and connect the syringe.
3. Slowly push the plunger of the syringe to give the antibiotic steadily over about 5 minutes.
4. Once you have finished giving the antibiotic and the syringe is empty, remove the syringe and use a flush as recommended by your doctor or nurse.
5. Close the cap of your cannula and carefully throw the syringe away in your sharps bin.
Giving MEROPENEM through a port or central line: 1. Remove the cap on the port or line, clean the end of the line with an alcohol wipe and allow it to dry.
2. Connect the syringe and slowly push the plunger on the syringe to give the antibiotic steadily over about 5 minutes.
3. Once you have finished giving the antibiotic, remove the syringe and use a flush as recommended by your doctor or nurse.
4. Place a new clean cap on your central line and carefully throw the syringe away in your sharps bin.
Refer to the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for further information about MEROPENEM 500mg powder for solution for injection or infusion or MEROPENEM 1g powder for solution for injection or infusion.
