Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the SUPERIOR trial before randomization
|  | Placebo (n = 47) | Meropenem (n = 44) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
Male gender, n (%) | 15 (31.9) | 23 (52.3) | 0.058 |
Age, years, mean (SD) | 73.2 (16.4) | 73.8 (14.4) | 0.858 |
CCI, mean (SD) | 5.49 (2.84) | 5.89 (3.01) | 0.519 |
Comorbidities, n (%) | |||
 Type 2 diabetes mellitus | 14 (29.8) | 15 (34.1) | 0.822 |
 COPD | 9 (19.1) | 8 (18.2) | 1.00 |
 Chronic heart failure | 10 (21.3) | 13 (29.5) | 0.472 |
 Chronic renal disease | 17 (36.2) | 15 (34.1) | 1.00 |
 Coronary heart disease | 5 (10.6) | 12 (27.3) | 0.059 |
 Atrial fibrillation | 14 (29.8) | 13 (29.5) | 1.00 |
 Parkinson’s disease | 4 (8.5) | 0 (0) | 0.118 |
 Ischemic stroke | 6 (12.8) | 3 (7) | 0.489 |
Baseline MH SOFA score, mean (SD) | 1.51 (1.73) | 1.34 (1.38) | 0.608 |
Admission ED SOFA score, mean (SD) | 3.04 (2.44) | 3.43 (1.78) | 0.390 |
Admission APACHE II score, mean (SD) | 12.78 (5.47) | 14.18 (5.32) | 0.223 |
White blood cell count, (/mm3), mean (SD) | 10,387.2 (4313.4) | 12,272.1 (7731.2) | 0.152 |
Platelet cell count, (/mm3), mean (SD) | 249,255.3 (116,691.8) | 235,418.6 (92,547.8) | 0.537 |
qSOFA signs, n (%) | |||
 Respiratory rate ≥ 22/min | 40 (85.1) | 39 (88.6) | 0.760 |
 Systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg | 5 (10.6) | 4 (9.1) | 1.00 |
 Altered mental status | 2 (4.3) | 1 (2.3) | 1.00 |
Creatinine, mg/dl, mean (SD) | 2.05 (2.19) | 3.04 (6.04) | 0.301 |
AST, U/l, mean (SD) | 47.9 (47.7) | 46.4 (43.9) | 0.883 |
ALT, U/l, mean (SD) | 34.2 (49.4) | 40.7 (36.6) | 0.487 |
Total bilirubin, mean (SD) | 1.04 (1.53) | 1.27 (1.84) | 0.524 |
Final diagnosis, n (%) | |||
 Community-acquired pneumonia | 13 (27.6) | 12 (27.3) | 1.00 |
 Health care associated pneumonia | 11 (23.4) | 11 (25.0) | 1.00 |
 Acute pyelonephritis | 10 (21.3) | 4 (9.1) | 0.148 |
 Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) | 2 (4.3) | 3 (6.8) | 0.670 |
 Intra-abdominal infection/gastroenteritis | 4 (8.5) | 3 (6.8) | 0.476 |
 Biliary tract infection | 3 (6.4) | 8 (18.2) | 0.112 |
 Multi-drug resistant infection | 2 (4.3) | 2 (4.5) | 1.00 |
 Fever of unknown origin | 2 (4.3) | 1 (2.3) | 1.00 |
Most common isolated microorganisms, n (%) | |||
 Escherichia coli | 7 (14.9) | 7 (15.9) | 1.00 |
 Klebsiella pneumoniae | 7 (14.9) | 3 (6.8) | 0.318 |
Minutes from blood drawing until suPAR result, median (Q1–Q3) | 40.0 (35.0–44.0) | 40.0 (35.0–45.0) | 0.876 |
Minutes from blood drawing until start of the study drug, median (Q1–Q3) | 50.0 (45.0–58.0) | 50.0 (47.5–60.0) | 0.667 |
Compliance of antibiotics started after the study drug with the ESCMID guidelines, n (%) | 40 (85.1) | 38 (86.4) | 1.00 |