Imipenem: the first thienamycin antibiotic.
Imipenem is a new beta-lactam which differs chemically from penicillins and cephalosporins but has a similar mode of action. It is a potent antibacterial agent with a broad spectrum of activity encompassing both aerobes and anaerobes. However, in vitro, it does not appear to offer a great improvement over other available agents for the treatment of infections caused by problem organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci. The results of clinical trials suggest that imipenem is efficacious and toxic side effects do not appear to be a problem.
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013845:Thienamycins; D015378:Imipenem