carbapenems

Question 1

Question: What is the spectrum of activity for carbapenems, and which bacteria are they not effective against?
Answer: Carbapenems have a broad spectrum of activity, covering many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as anaerobes. However, they are not active against meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Enterococcus faecium.

Question: What are the primary uses of imipenem (imipenem with cilastatin) and meropenem in the treatment of infections?
Answer: Imipenem (imipenem with cilastatin) and meropenem are used to treat severe and complicated infections, including hospital-acquired pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, skin and soft-tissue infections, and urinary-tract infections.

Question: What is unique about ertapenem compared to other carbapenems, and what are its primary licensed uses?
Answer: Unlike other carbapenems, ertapenem is not active against Pseudomonas or Acinetobacter spp. It is licensed for treating abdominal and gynaecological infections, community-acquired pneumonia, and skin and soft-tissue infections in patients with diabetes.

Question: How is imipenem administered and why is cilastatin used in combination with it?
Answer: Imipenem is partially inactivated in the kidney, so it is administered with cilastatin (imipenem with cilastatin), a specific enzyme inhibitor, to block its renal metabolism. This allows imipenem to remain effective.

Question: What distinguishes meropenem from imipenem in terms of side effects and potential applications?
Answer: Meropenem has less seizure-inducing potential compared to imipenem and can be used to treat central nervous system infections.

Answer 1

Question: What is the spectrum of activity for carbapenems, and which bacteria are they not effective against?
Answer: Carbapenems have a broad spectrum of activity, covering many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as anaerobes. However, they are not active against meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Enterococcus faecium.

Question: What are the primary uses of imipenem (imipenem with cilastatin) and meropenem in the treatment of infections?
Answer: Imipenem (imipenem with cilastatin) and meropenem are used to treat severe and complicated infections, including hospital-acquired pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, skin and soft-tissue infections, and urinary-tract infections.

Question: What is unique about ertapenem compared to other carbapenems, and what are its primary licensed uses?
Answer: Unlike other carbapenems, ertapenem is not active against Pseudomonas or Acinetobacter spp. It is licensed for treating abdominal and gynaecological infections, community-acquired pneumonia, and skin and soft-tissue infections in patients with diabetes.

Question: How is imipenem administered and why is cilastatin used in combination with it?
Answer: Imipenem is partially inactivated in the kidney, so it is administered with cilastatin (imipenem with cilastatin), a specific enzyme inhibitor, to block its renal metabolism. This allows imipenem to remain effective.

Question: What distinguishes meropenem from imipenem in terms of side effects and potential applications?
Answer: Meropenem has less seizure-inducing potential compared to imipenem and can be used to treat central nervous system infections.