title: Comparative in vitro activities of ertapenem against aerobic and facultative bacterial pathogens from patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections.
abstract: This study compared the in vitro activities of ertapenem (Merck & Co., Inc.), ceftriaxone, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and piperacillin-tazobactam against 518 aerobic and facultative bacterial pathogens isolated from 340 patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections. Ciprofloxacin was also tested against Gram-negative isolates. Gram-positive cocci accounted for 68.1% of the aerobic bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate (45.6%). The ertapenem MIC was < or = 2 microg/ml for 80.9% of isolates and > or = 8 microg/ml for 16.2% (including isolates of enterococci, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other nonfermentative Gram-negative bacteria). Against methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, ertapenem had the most potent activity. Ertapenem was the most active drug against Enterobacteriaceae (100% susceptible), whereas amoxicillin-clavulanate was least active (66% susceptible). Piperacillin-tazobactam was the most active drug against P. aeruginosa (100% susceptible), followed by ciprofloxacin (87% susceptible). In summary, ertapenem was highly active in vitro against many aerobic and facultative bacterial pathogens commonly recovered from patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections.
authors.affiliation: Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Pelak
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bartizal
authors.forename: Gail L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gesser
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motyl
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis / Q000187:drug effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D000077727:Ertapenem; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007769:Lactams; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D047090:beta-Lactams
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007769:Lactams; D047090:beta-Lactams; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D000077727:Ertapenem