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Current Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 0929-8673
ISSN (Online): 1875-533X

Current Status of Newer Carbapenems

Author(s): Matteo Bassetti, Laura Nicolini, Silvano Esposito, Elda Righi and Claudio Viscoli

Volume 16, Issue 5, 2009

Page: [564 - 575] Pages: 12

DOI: 10.2174/092986709787458498

Price: $65

Abstract

Objectives: Beta-lactam antibiotics represent the most commonly prescribed antibacterial agents. Since many bacteria have developed resistance to older agents, new beta-lactams have been introduced constantly. In the late 1970s, a new class of exceptionally broad-spectrum beta-lactams, the carbapenems, was identified. The carbapenems, such as the most popular imipenem and meropenem, have the widest spectra of antibacterial activity of all the beta-lactams and provide excellent coverage of many gram-negative and gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Despite the wide antibacterial spectrum, the carbapenems globally lack activity against Enterococcus faecium, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Methods: We reviewed the principal characteristics of the novel carbapenems and their clinical implications. Results and conclusions: We included in our review: ertapenem, biapenem, panipenem, doripenem, tebipenem pivoxil and tomopenem.

Keywords: Carbapenems, imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem, biapenem, panipenem, tebipenem pivoxil, doripenem


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