[Available carbapenems: Properties and differences].

Abstract

Carbapenems are β-lactam antibiotics endowed with a broader spectrum, activity and resistance to β-lactamases than other β-lactams. Due to their qualities, these antibiotics are crucial in empirical therapy, in the monotherapy of several severe hospital-acquired infections -and even that of some community-acquired infections- as well as in the directed therapy of infections due to multiresistant Gram-negative bacteria. All the available carbapenems have a similar spectrum, although there are significant differences in their antimicrobial activity, which in the long run determines the clinical indications of each carbapenem. The spectrum of ertapenem does not cover eminently nosocomial pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp., and hence this antibiotic is indicated in community-acquired infections requiring hospital treatment. In contrast, doripenem shows greater intrinsic activity than other carbapenems in extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing enterobacteria and AmpC P. aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp. and other non-fermentative and anaerobic microorganisms. Additionally, like the remaining carbapenems, doripenem has adequate pharmacokinetic characteristics and a favorable safety profile.

• Authors: María José Fresnadillo Martínez, María Inmaculada García García, Enrique García Sánchez, José Elías García Sánchez
• Journal: Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiologia clinica (Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin) Vol. 28 Suppl 2 Pg. 53-64 (Sep 2010) ISSN: 1578-1852 [Electronic] Spain
• Vernacular Title: Los carbapenems disponibles: Propiedades y diferencias.
• PMID: 21130931 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España S.L. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Bacterial Proteins
• Carbapenems
• beta-Lactamases
• carbapenemase

Topics

• Abdomen
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (adverse effects, chemistry, classification, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Bacterial Infections (drug therapy)
• Bacterial Proteins (classification, metabolism)
• Biological Availability
• Carbapenems (adverse effects, chemistry, classification, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cell Wall (drug effects)
• Clinical Trials as Topic (statistics & numerical data)
• Community-Acquired Infections (drug therapy)
• Cross Infection (drug therapy)
• Drug Interactions
• Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
• Humans
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests (methods)
• Molecular Structure
• Structure-Activity Relationship
• Substrate Specificity
• Tissue Distribution
• beta-Lactam Resistance
• beta-Lactamases (classification, metabolism)