Empirical Meropenem Versus Piperacillin/Tazobactam for Critically Ill Adults With Sepsis: Feasibility of a Randomised Trial.
Acta Anaesthesiol ScandSep 6, 2026
Nick Frørup Meier, Morten Hylander Møller, Maj-Brit Nørregaard Kjær et al.
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In 30 seconds
The EMPRESS trial is an ongoing randomized controlled trial assessing the feasibility of comparing empirical meropenem versus piperacillin/tazobactam in critically ill adults with sepsis. Conducted across 10 ICUs in Denmark, the study enrolled 200 participants. Four out of five feasibility criteria were met, with a 30-day mortality rate of 30.5%.
Key findings
- 200 of 284 screened patients were randomized, achieving a recruitment proportion of 70.4%.
- 30-day all-cause mortality was 30.5% among participants.
- Timely primary outcome data availability improved from 33.3% to 95.8% in the last month of the feasibility phase.
- Specific serious adverse reactions occurred in 4.0% of participants.
Why it matters
Understanding the feasibility of comparing these two antibiotics in critically ill patients with sepsis is crucial for future research. The results may inform clinical decision-making regarding empirical antibiotic therapy in this vulnerable population.