Can Meropenem Cause Joint Swelling?
Meropenem does not cause joint swelling as a recognized adverse effect. Joint swelling is not listed among the documented side effects of this carbapenem antibiotic in extensive safety reviews.
Evidence from Safety Data
The most comprehensive safety analysis of meropenem, encompassing over 6,000 patients, establishes a clear adverse event profile that does not include joint-related symptoms 1.
Common Adverse Events with Meropenem
The documented side effects occur at very low frequencies 1, 2:
- Diarrhea (2.5% of patients) - most common adverse event
- Rash (1.4%)
- Nausea/vomiting (1.2%)
- Injection site inflammation (<2.5%)
No adverse event occurred in more than 3% of patient exposures, indicating an overall low frequency of side effects 1.
Joint Tissue Penetration Does Not Equal Joint Toxicity
While meropenem achieves therapeutic concentrations in joint tissues and fluid (18.2-4.05 micrograms/g in joint tissues), this reflects its efficacy for treating bone and joint infections, not a propensity to cause joint problems 3. The drug's penetration into these tissues is actually beneficial for treating orthopedic infections 3.
Clinical Implications
If a patient develops joint swelling while receiving meropenem, alternative explanations should be investigated 1, 2:
- Underlying infection (septic arthritis, osteomyelitis)
- Immune-mediated reactions unrelated to the antibiotic
- Concurrent inflammatory conditions
- Other medications the patient is receiving
The extensive clinical trial experience across multiple serious bacterial infections—including complicated skin infections, intra-abdominal infections, nosocomial pneumonia, and meningitis—has not identified arthralgia or joint swelling as drug-related adverse events 4, 1, 2.