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Optimizing Meropenem Treatment with Continuous vs Intermittent Infusion in Patients with Foreign-Body Bone and Joint Infections

Verified siteRegistered drugNo placebo
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What is this trial about?

A plain-language summary of the goals, design and what participants do

Patients with bone and joint infections that occur around implanted devices or after surgery can develop serious problems in the affected area. The study uses the antibiotic meropenem, which is given through a vein (intravenous infusion) to treat these infections.

The purpose of the study is to compare how the drug moves into the blood and the infected bone when it is given by continuous infusion versus intermittent infusion. Participants will receive the medication using one of the two infusion methods for a short period, and small samples of blood and bone tissue will be collected to measure the amount of drug present.

The research process

The trial runs in 6 steps – from screening to follow-up. Each step says what happens and what the team monitors.

  1. Step 1

    Baseline assessments

    After joining the study, you will complete a short medical questionnaire, give blood samples, and may undergo imaging of the affected bone or joint to document the current condition.

  2. Step 2

    Assignment to infusion method

    You will be randomly assigned to receive meropenem either by continuous infusion (the medication is given without interruption) or by intermittent infusion (the medication is given in separate doses throughout the day).

  3. Step 3

    Medication administration

    You will receive meropenem at a dose of 2 g (grams) through an infusion, which means the drug is delivered into a vein.

    The infusion will be given according to the method assigned to you (continuous or intermittent) for the entire treatment period as defined by the study protocol.

  4. Step 4

    Sample collection for drug monitoring

    Throughout the treatment period, regular blood samples and, when possible, small samples of bone tissue will be taken to measure the concentration of meropenem in your body.

    These measurements help researchers understand how the drug behaves in plasma and bone tissue.

  5. Step 5

    Monitoring for safety

    You will be observed for any side effects or reactions to the medication, and any concerns will be recorded by the study team.

  6. Step 6

    End of treatment and final evaluation

    At the conclusion of the medication period, a final set of assessments will be performed, including repeat blood and bone sampling to complete the study measurements.

Who can join the trial?

5 criteria

  • Must have a diagnosed foreign-body bone and joint infection (an infection in the bone or joint that involves a piece of medical hardware or other foreign object).
  • Must be able to be randomised (agree to be placed by chance into one of the treatment groups) after the infection diagnosis.
  • Must be at least 18 years old.
  • Must be able to give informed consent (understand the study and agree to take part, or have a legal representative do so).
  • Both men and women are eligible to participate.

Who cannot join the trial?

7 criteria

  • Having a known or suspected allergy or intolerance to the antibiotic meropenem (a reaction that could cause rash, breathing trouble, or other symptoms).
  • Having severe chronic kidney failure, which means the kidneys work very poorly (a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 30 mL per minute).
  • Being pregnant (carrying a baby) or lactating (breast‑feeding a baby).
  • Having an infection related to spine hardware (spine instrumentation), because the bone in the spine is different from the long bones the study looks at.
  • Having undergone a limb amputation (removal of an arm or leg).
  • Being unable or unwilling to give informed consent, the written agreement needed to join the study.
  • Having already taken part in this trial before.
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Investigated drugs

MEROPENEM is an antibiotic that fights a wide range of bacterial infections. In this study it is given through an IV line directly into the bloodstream. The researchers are testing two ways of giving the drug: a steady, continuous infusion that delivers the medicine all the time, and an intermittent infusion that gives the medicine in separate, short doses. By measuring how much of the drug reaches the blood and the bone tissue, they want to find the best method to treat infections that involve foreign material, such as implants, in bones and joints.

What is already known about the treatment

MEROPENEM - MEROPENEM is given by intravenous infusion, either continuous or intermittent. It is an approved broad‑spectrum antibiotic used worldwide for serious bacterial infections, including bone and joint infections. It works by blocking an enzyme that bacteria need to build their cell walls, which leads to bacterial death. It belongs to the carbapenem class of beta‑lactam antibiotics.

Investigated diseases

Foreign-body bone and joint infection - This infection occurs when bacteria colonize a prosthetic device or other material placed in the skeleton, affecting both bone and joint tissues. It typically causes pain, swelling, redness, and warmth around the affected area. The bacteria can spread from the surface of the implant into surrounding tissue, leading to gradual tissue damage. Over time, pus may form, bone can be lost, and the implant may become loose. The infection can develop either slowly or rapidly, depending on the type of bacteria and the body’s response.
Trial detailsLast updated 7 Oct 2026
Age18+ yearsPhasePhase IIITrial ID2026-527210-22-00Protocol codeMEROBONEEstimated enrolment20 patientsSponsorConsorci Mar Parc De Salut De Barcelona

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