title: Mechanisms by which imipenem may overcome resistance in gram-negative bacilli.
abstract: Imipenem is one of the carbapenem class of new beta-lactam antibiotics. It is a potent antibacterial with a broad spectrum of activity. Against Gram-negative rods, it appears to be able to circumvent the classical resistance mechanisms by way of its high affinity for PBP 2 and its good penetration of the cell wall. Imipenem is stable to hydrolysis by the common plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases and is a potent inducer of, but stable to the action of, chromosomal beta-lactamases.
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D015378:Imipenem; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000378:metabolism; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D013845:Thienamycins; D015378:Imipenem; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase; D001618:beta-Lactamases