title: Carbapenems in the USA: focus on doripenem.
abstract: The threat of antibacterial resistance continues to increase globally, and therapeutic options for the treatment of some serious infectious diseases are diminishing. The carbapenems are a potent class of broad-spectrum drugs, and their stability against hydrolysis by many important beta-lactamases make them an important weapon in the treatment of beta-lactamase-producing bacterial pathogens. This review focuses on four carbapenems of clinical importance in the USA: imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem and doripenem. After a historical review of carbapenem development, these four carbapenems are evaluated based on their mechanism of action, spectrum of activity, potency, pharmacodynamics, clinical pharmacokinetics, clinical profiles and toxicity issues.
authors.affiliation: Creighton University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA. pdlister@creighton.edu
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Lister
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077726:Doripenem; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D000077727:Ertapenem; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077731:Meropenem; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014481:United States; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015780:Carbapenems; D013845:Thienamycins; D047090:beta-Lactams; D015378:Imipenem; D000077726:Doripenem; D000077731:Meropenem; D000077727:Ertapenem