Patient description: A 48-year-old white male with history of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) with acute abdominal pain, fever, dehydration, HR of 132 bpm, BP 80/40. The physical examination is remarkable for tenderness and positive Murphy sign. Abdominal ultrasound shows hepatomegaly and abundant free intraperitoneal fluid. Exploratory laparotomy reveals a ruptured liver abscess, which is then surgically drained. After surgery, the patient is taken to the ICU.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 18.0-90.0,  Complicated Intra-abdominal Infection Male or female, from 18 to 90 years of age, inclusive One of the following diagnoses (in which there is evidence of intraperitoneal infection) including:(a) Cholecystitis (including gangrenous cholecystitis) with rupture, perforation, or progression of the infection beyond the gallbladder wall;(b)Diverticular disease with perforation or abscess; (c) Appendiceal perforation or periappendiceal abscess; (d) Acute gastric or duodenal perforation, only if operated on >24 hours after perforation occurs; (e) Traumatic perforation of the intestine, only if operated on > 12 hours after perforation occurs; (f) Peritonitis due to perforated viscus, postoperative or spread from other focus of infection (but not spontaneous [primary] bacterial peritonitis or peritonitis associated with cirrhosis and chronic ascites).Subjects with inflammatory bowel disease or ischemic bowel disease are eligible provided there is bowel perforation; or (g) Intraabdominal abscess (including liver and spleen) Subject requires surgical intervention (e.g. laparotomy, laparoscopic surgery, or percutaneous draining of an abscess) within 24 hours of (before or after) the first dose of study drug If subject is to be enrolled preoperatively, the subject must have radiographic evidence of bowel perforation or intraabdominal abscess Subjects who failed prior antibacterial treatment for the current cIAI can be enrolled but must: (a) have a positive culture (from an intraabdominal site) and (b) require surgical intervention. Such subjects can be enrolled before the results of the culture are known; however, if the culture is negative, study drug administration must be discontinued Willing and able to comply with all study procedures and restrictions Willing and able to provide written informed consent  Women who are pregnant, nursing, or if of child bearing potential not using a medically accepted, effective method of birth control (e.g. condom, oral contraceptive, indwelling intrauterine device, or sexual abstinence) Diagnosis of abdominal wall abscess; small bowel obstruction or ischemic bowel disease without perforation; traumatic bowel perforation with surgery within 12 hours; perforation of gastroduodenal ulcer with surgery within 24 hours (these are considered situations of peritoneal soiling before infection has become established); another intraabdominal process in which the primary etiology is not likely to be infectious Simple cholecystitis, gangrenous cholecystitis without rupture, simple appendicitis, acute suppurative cholangitis, infected, necrotizing pancreatitis, or pancreatic abscess cIAI managed by staged abdominal repair (STAR), open abdomen technique or any situation where infection source control is not likely to be achieved Known prior to randomization to have an IAI or postoperative infection caused by pathogen(s) resistant to meropenem Considered unlikely to survive the 4 to 5-week study period Any rapidly-progressing disease or immediately life-threatening illness (including acute hepatic failure, respiratory failure and septic shock)