Meropenem
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Meropenem is an ultra-broad spectrum injectable antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of infections, including meningitis and pneumonia. It is a beta-lactam and belongs to the subgroup of carbapenem, similar to imipenem and ertapenem. Meropenem was originally developed by Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals. It is marketed outside Japan by AstraZeneca with the brand names Merrem® and Meronem®. Other brand names include Mepem® (Taiwan) andMeropen® (Japan, Korea). It gained FDA approval in July 1996. It penetrates well into many tissues and body fluids including the cerebrospinal fluid,bile, heart valves, lung, and peritoneal fluid.[1]
Category
Carbapenems
US Brand Names
Merrem®
FDA Package Insert
Description | Clinical Pharmacology | Microbiology | Indications and Usage | Contraindications | Warnings | Precautions | Adverse Reactions | Overdosage | Clinical Studies | Dosage and Administration | Compatibility, Reconstitution, and Stability | Directions For Use | How Supplied | Other Size Packages Available | Labels and Packages
Mechanism of action
Meropenem is bactericidal except against Listeria monocytogenes where it is bacteriostatic. It inhibits bacterial wall synthesis like other beta-lactam antibiotics. In contrast to other beta-lactams, it is highly resistant to degradation by beta-lactamases or cephalosporinases. Resistance generally arises due to mutations inpenicillin binding proteins, production of metallo-beta-lactamases, or resistance to diffusion across the bacterial outer membrane.[2] Unlike imipenem, it is stable to dehydropeptidase-1 and can therefore be given without cilastatin.