Carbapenem

Carbapenems are a class of very effective <a href="/facts/Antibiotic/sF1kIfxg">antibiotic</a> agents most commonly used for treatment of severe bacterial <a href="/facts/Infections/182XrncP">infections</a>. This class of antibiotics is usually reserved for known or suspected <a href="/facts/Multiple_drug_resistance/TPbHtAvz">multidrug-resistant</a> (MDR) bacterial infections. Similar to <a href="/facts/Penicillins/Abo8VQ3p">penicillins</a> and <a href="/facts/Cephalosporins/WeB7I75T">cephalosporins</a>, carbapenems are members of the <a href="/facts/Beta-lactam_antibiotics/MTqEtwsg">beta-lactam antibiotics</a> drug class, which kill bacteria by binding to <a href="/facts/Penicillin-binding_proteins/NHUFDpy2">penicillin-binding proteins</a>, thus inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. However, these agents individually exhibit a broader spectrum of activity compared to most cephalosporins and penicillins. Furthermore, carbapenems are typically unaffected by emerging <a href="/facts/Antimicrobial_resistance/jsbAywgx">antibiotic resistance</a>, even to other beta-lactams.[medical citation needed]
Carbapenem antibiotics were originally developed at <a href="/facts/Merck_%26_Co./8YD8dvwR">Merck & Co.</a> from the carbapenem <a href="/facts/Thienamycin/QQ5gQBol">thienamycin</a>, a naturally derived product of <a href="/facts/Streptomyces_cattleya/rT8A3ANH">Streptomyces cattleya</a>. Concern has arisen in recent years over increasing rates of resistance to carbapenems, as there are few therapeutic options for treating infections caused by carbapenem-resistant bacteria (such as <a href="/facts/Klebsiella_pneumoniae/edtyTP4E">Klebsiella pneumoniae</a> and other <a href="/facts/Carbapenem-resistant_enterobacteriaceae/5NJULG5Y">carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae</a>).

Carbapenem open-in-new

Carbapenem