Carbapenem

Carbapenems are antibiotics used for the treatment of infections known or suspected to be caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Their use is primarily in people who are hospitalized.

Like the penicillins and cephalosporins, they are members of the beta lactam class of antibiotics, which kill bacteria by binding to penicillin-binding proteins and inhibiting cell wall synthesis. They exhibit a broader spectrum of activity compared to cephalosporins and penicillins. Their effectiveness is less affected by many common mechanisms of antibiotic resistance than other beta lactams.