Included In This Lesson
Study Tools
Outline
Generic Name
Meropenem
Trade/Brand Name
Merrem
Indication
- Bacterial meningitis
- Skin and skin structure infections
- Complicated intra-abdominal infections
- Sepsis/Septic shock
Action
Inhibits bacterial wall synthesis
Therapeutic Class
Antibiotic
Pharmacologic Class
Carbapenem
Nursing Considerations
- Caution in patients with cephalosporin allergy
- May cause
- Seizures
- Anaphylactic reactions
- C-diff
- May lead to
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Superinfection
Transcript
Hey guys, let’s talk about Meropenem, also known as Meru. This is an injectable medication, as you can see here, this IV hanging.
Okay. So remember when we are talking about the therapeutic class of a drug, we’re talking about how the drug works in the body and for Meropenem, this is an anti-infective. The pharmacologic class of Meropenem is a carbopenem, which is the chemical effect of the drug. So Meropenem works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, which is why we use it for the treatment of bacterial meningitis for skin and skin structure infections for the treatment of complicated interabdominal infections and also for SEP sepsis or septic shock. So for Meripenem sometimes we see side effects that include things like constipation, redness at the injection site, because it’s an IV medication, headache and nausea.
Okay. Let’s take a look at a few nursing considerations for Meropenem meropenam may cause seizures. It may cause C diff and also an anaphylactic reaction use caution in patients who have a cephalosporin allergy and also meropenum may lead to Steven’s Johnson syndrome. Remember this is a skin syndrome or also a super infection teach the patient to report effects to the provider, especially those skin issues. So guys here is something interesting. According to the CDC, Meropenem is actually used for the prevention and treatment of anthrax issues. That’s it for Meropenem or marrow now go out and be your best self today and as always happy nursing.
Tarang Patel, DNP-NA, RN, CCRN, RPh 
Nichole Weaver, MSN/Ed, RN, CCRN 
Miriam Wahrman, MSN/Ed, RNC-MNN 
Kara Tarr, BSN, RN 
Nacole Riccaboni, MSN, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CCRN, CMC 