Carbapenems

What are Carbapenems?

Carbapenems are a class of beta-lactam antibiotic that are active against many aerobic and anaerobic gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Thienamycin was the first carbapenem to be discovered in 1976. Carbapenems are notable for their ability to inhibit beta-lactamase enzymes (also called penicillinase) – a type of enzyme that greatly reduces the activity of antibiotics such as penicillins and cephamycins. Of all the beta-lactam antibiotics, carbapenems possess the broadest spectrum of activity and the greatest potency against bacteria. Because of this, they are often reserved for more severe infections or used as “last-line” agents.

Carbapenems inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to the penicillin-binding proteins and interfering with cell wall formation.

Resistance to carbapenems further reduces patient treatment options. The Antibiotic Resistance Lab Network (AR Lab Network) routinely tests CROs for the presence of five targeted carbapenemase genes: KPC, NDM, OXA-48-like, IMP, and VIM.

Carbapenems. Carbapenems are a class of β-lactam antibiotics with the widest spectrum of antibacterial coverage because they are commonly resistant to β-lactamases. The 4 approved agents in the United States include ertapenem, imipenem-cilastatin, meropenem, and doripenem.