Monotherapy versus combination antimicrobial therapy: a review.

In view of the newer antibiotics that can cover the spectrum of organisms in mixed infections, single agents are now a viable option for antimicrobial therapy. In addition, monotherapy is relatively nontoxic and possibly less costly than combination therapy. Combinations may be more effective in preventing the emergence of resistance, however, and can also provide synergistic effects.

Imipenem monotherapy versus combination therapy in the management of mixed bacterial infection: a critical appraisal.

There has been a great deal of interest in the use of imipenem monotherapy rather than combinations of antimicrobials for mixed bacterial infections. A review of the published comparative studies of imipenem versus combinations in serious mixed bacterial infections indicated that, overall, imipenem is at least as effective as, and maybe less expensive than, the combinations tested. Several studies suggest that clinical response to imipenem is more rapid than to the comparison regimens; however, other factors may have influenced these values, and the numbers of patients in these reports were small.