title: In vitro activity of meropenem (SM-7338), imipenem, and five other antibiotics against anaerobic clinical isolates.
abstract: The in vitro susceptibility of 513 recent anaerobic clinical isolates was evaluated against meropenem (SM-7338), a new carbapenem, and six other antibiotics. Virtually all Gram-positive and Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria tested were susceptible to meropenem (defined as MICs less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml) with 99.8% of the isolates inhibited by less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml. The activity of meropenem was comparable to imipenem for most clinical isolates. Minor differences were observed for Clostridium and Veillonella (meropenem more active) and other Gram-positive bacilli (imipenem more active). Meropenem inhibited all anaerobes resistant to clindamycin and metronidazole. Bactericidal tests performed with meropenem demonstrated killing activity against all isolates except Clostridium and Lactobacillus.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Niles
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects*; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000187:drug effects; D003013:Clostridium / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects; D000077731:Meropenem; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014678:Veillonella / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013845:Thienamycins; D015378:Imipenem; D000077731:Meropenem