Abstract
The use of continuous infusion to improve the therapeutic efficacy of time-dependent antibiotics has been demonstrated. There is still a lack of data to safely perform these continuous infusions. The objectives in this study were to evaluate the stability by using stability-indicating methods (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) of 16 antibiotics in concentrated solutions, especially for administration in intensive care units and solutions in elastomeric diffusers at 37 °C for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy. The solutions were considered stable if the percentage of the drug was ≥90%, and the colour and clearness remained unchanged. In syringes, the stability data vary from 4 to 8 h (h) for meropenem in Dextrose 5% (D5W) and Normal Saline (NS), respectively, 6 h for cefotaxime, 12 h for cefoxitin, and 24 h for aztreonam, cefazolin, cefepime, cefiderocol, ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam in NS and D5W, and in water for injection for cloxacillin. A stability period of 48 h has been validated for vancomycin (D5W), aztreonam, and piperacillin/tazobactam. Cefoxitin, cefazolin, cefepime, cefotaxime, cloxacillin, and piperacillin are unstable for diffuser administration. In diffusers, stability times vary from 6 h for cefiderocol, 8 h for ceftazidime, 12 h for ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam (NS), 24 h for temocillin (NS) and piperacillin/tazobactam (D5W), up to 48 h for aztreonam and vancomycin. Solutions stored at 37 °C are less stable and allow the administration of seven antibiotics using diffusers.