Merrem I.V. has been recommended for use in treating adults and children with certain serious bacterial infections. Merrem is indicated for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections in adults and pediatric subjects and for the treatment of bacterial meningitis in pediatric subjects.

Merrem is the first carbapenem antibiotic available in the United States that can be used in children and does not need to be administered in combination with an enzyme inhibitor to prevent its renal breakdown. Merrem is a potent antibiotic with activity against many different bacteria, including some that are resistant to other antibiotics.

Merrem can be administered by intravenous infusion or intravenous bolus injection.

Merrem is well tolerated at high doses and has been shown to have a low incidence of adverse events. Systemic adverse events reported in studies with Merrem were typical of those seen with other intravenous antibiotics and included diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and headache.