Stability of antimicrobial agents in an elastomeric infusion pump used for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy

Objectives: The long-term stability of antimicrobials dissolved in infusion solution is necessary to establish and spread the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). In this study, we evaluated the stability of antimicrobial agents dissolved in infusion solutions. Methods: The antimicrobial agents were dissolved in infusion solutions and kept at 25 degrees C and 31.1 degrees C for 24 h or 4 degrees C for 10 days in a polypropylene tube or an elastomeric infusion pump. The stability was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results and conclusion: The residual ratio of cefazolin (CEZ), cefmetazole (CMZ), piperacillin (PIPC), and tazobactam (TAZ) at 31.1 degrees C for 24 h was as follows: 95.7 +/- 3.0%, 94.8 +/- 0.9%, 102.6 +/- 1.8%, and 103.9 +/- 3.6% in saline, respectively; 94.7 +/- 3.0%, 94.3 +/- 1.5%, 106.1 +/- 3.0%, and 107.3 +/- 2.4% in 5% dextrose solution, respectively. The residual ratio of these antimicrobials at 4 degrees C for 10 days was maintained above 90% in both saline and 5% dextrose solution. The residual ratio of all the above antimicrobials in an elastomeric infusion pump at 31.1 degrees C for 24 h was equivalent to that in the polypropylene tube. On the other hand, doripenem and meropenem were not stable in any infusion solution at 31.1 degrees C. CEZ, CMZ, and PIPC/TAZ dissolved in saline or 5% dextrose solution can be used in OPAT with continuous infusion pumps. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the stability of antimicrobial agents dissolved in infusion solutions, showing that certain antibiotics remained stable in specific conditions while others did not. Overall, cefazolin, cefmetazole, piperacillin, and tazobactam demonstrated good stability, making them suitable for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy with continuous infusion pumps.